NIWA moves to clean up waterways, boosts blue economy investment

By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has intensified efforts to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways with the commencement of a comprehensive clean-up programme aimed at tackling pollution, enhancing navigational safety and attracting investment into the nation’s blue economy.

To drive the initiative, Parts Central Limited has been mandated to provide strategic oversight and implementation support for the project, which stakeholders described as a major step toward restoring environmental sustainability across the country’s inland waterways.

The project, which was initiated during the tenure of the immediate past Managing Director of NIWA, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, is expected to address longstanding challenges, including indiscriminate waste disposal, oil spillage, environmental degradation and other forms of pollution that have hindered the optimal utilization of Nigeria’s waterways.

Speaking on the project, Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Mr. Henry Onifade, said the programme would be executed professionally to ensure lasting environmental and economic benefits.

According to him, the initiative represents a landmark intervention in the management of Nigeria’s waterways and is designed to deliver measurable results through transparency, sustainability and stakeholder collaboration.

He said: “This project goes beyond environmental sanitation. It is about creating cleaner, safer and more productive waterways that can support commerce, transportation, fisheries, tourism and investment.”

Onifade noted that the programme would identify major sources of pollution, facilitate systematic waste evacuation and promote waste-to-wealth initiatives capable of generating employment opportunities for communities located along the waterways.

He added that improved waterway conditions would enhance navigational safety by removing debris and other obstacles that impede the movement of vessels and watercraft.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the Marine and Blue Economy sector and is expected to strengthen aquatic resource conservation, improve the fisheries value chain and stimulate economic activities across coastal and riverine communities.

Industry stakeholders believe that cleaner waterways will enhance the attractiveness of Nigeria’s inland water transport system, encourage local and foreign investment, boost tourism and commerce, and unlock significant opportunities within the country’s emerging blue economy.