By Sandra Chukwunyere
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has joined forces with indigenous company, Parts Central Ltd., to tackle the growing pollution of Nigeria’s inland waterways in what the partners describe as a long-term effort to make the waterways cleaner, safer and more navigable.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with plastic bottles, human waste, refuse and other forms of pollution identified as major threats to the waterways.
Under the partnership, waste collection and management systems will be introduced across waterfronts, landing points, jetties and other strategic locations. The programme is expected to run for an initial renewable period of 10 years.
Speaking at the unveiling, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, said keeping the waterways clean was fundamental to safe navigation and the growth of water transportation.
She said Lagos was selected as the starting point because of its extensive water network and the important role waterways play in the state’s economy.
Braimah noted that about one-third of Lagos State is covered by water, making the condition of its waterways particularly important to transportation, fishing, commerce and the livelihoods of many residents.
“Making it work starts from making it clean. If the water is clean, navigation will be easy. If the water is clean, it will create jobs for even our youth,” she said.
She said the programme would require the cooperation of waterfront owners, dredging operators, boat operators and other users of the waterways.
Braimah urged waterfront owners to provide proper waste-disposal facilities and called on companies operating around the waterways to ensure that their waste was properly treated and disposed of Waste bins for boats, mother bins at jetties
Managing Director of Parts Central Ltd., Hon. Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, said the company would deploy a structured waste-management system supported by technology.
According to him, approved waste bins would be provided for boats and other watercraft, while larger “mother bins” would be positioned at jetties to allow operators to offload waste collected during their journeys.
He said the system would create a coordinated process for collecting and disposing of waste before it finds its way into the waterways.
Onifade appealed to boat operators, waterfront communities and other stakeholders to cooperate with the clean-up teams, stressing that the initiative could only succeed if waterways users took responsibility for keeping their environment clean.
He also encouraged greater adoption of recycling and other environmentally responsible practices.
“Our waterways must not only be clean, they must be safe, productive and sustainable,” he said.
Onifade said cleaner waterways would support job creation, tourism and other economic activities while contributing to the development of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Lagos seeks stronger action against illegal dredging
The Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, described the initiative as a welcome example of collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State governments.
He said maintaining clean and safe waterways was essential to fishing, transportation and other economic activities along the waterfront.
Alebiosu, however, raised concerns over illegal dredging and its impact on the aquatic environment.
He warned that indiscriminate dredging could disturb aquatic life and force fishermen to travel farther in search of fish.
The commissioner also expressed concern over illegal infrastructure associated with dredging, including underground pipes and other obstructions that could pose serious risks to boats and contribute to accidents.
He called for stronger cooperation among government agencies, waterfront communities and waterways operators to address activities capable of undermining the safety and sustainability of Lagos waterways.
Marine Police link clean waterways to safety
The Marine Police also backed the initiative, with Deputy Commissioner of Police U.M. Ogechi, who represented the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Maritime Police, stressing the connection between environmental protection and maritime safety.
She said Nigeria’s economy depended significantly on maritime activities and warned that polluted waterways could threaten aquatic life as well as the safety of boat operators and passengers.
According to her, waterways protection should be viewed not only as an environmental responsibility but also as a safety and security concern because unsafe waterways can increase the risk of accidents and loss of lives.
Ogechi also commended traditional rulers and waterfront communities for providing security information that had assisted efforts to combat piracy and other crimes on the waterways.
She urged communities to continue sharing credible information with security agencies.
Tourism operators seek cleaner waterways
President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Operators (NATOP), Mrs. Bolaji Mustapha, said cleaner and safer waterways were essential to the development of water-based tourism in Nigeria.
Mustapha noted that the condition of the country’s waterways could influence how international visitors perceive Nigeria, recalling an incident in which a tourist boat became stuck while transporting visitors.
She urged NIWA and Parts Central to intensify public awareness and ensure that communities and waterways operators understood the importance of protecting the environment.
Communities welcome intervention
The initiative also received support from waterfront communities.
The Odofin of Onisiwo, High Chief Lateef Rufai, welcomed the intervention, noting that waste dumped into waterways often ends up along the shores of nearby communities.
He expressed optimism that sustained clean-up operations would improve environmental conditions and the quality of life of residents living around the waterways.
Similarly, the Head of Corporate Communication and Strategy of the Sustainable Waterways Awareness, Advancement and Development Organisation (SWAADO), Chief Raymond Gold, pledged the organisation’s support for the programme.
Gold said SWAADO remained committed to promoting safety and sustainability across Nigeria’s waterways.
He also said the organisation’s Nigeria Waterways Directory, which maps operators, jetties, communities and waterways infrastructure, could provide useful data to support the initiative.
From polluted waterways to blue economy opportunity
The stakeholders agreed that the success of the programme would depend on sustained cooperation among government agencies, the Lagos State Government, security agencies, waterfront communities, boat operators, tourism operators and other waterways users.
The partnership goes beyond the removal of existing refuse. By introducing approved waste bins on boats and larger collection points at jetties, NIWA and Parts Central hope to establish a more organised waste-management culture across the waterways.
For Nigeria, the stakes are high. Cleaner waterways can mean safer navigation, healthier aquatic ecosystems, improved tourism, more jobs and greater economic use of the country’s vast inland waterways.
With a renewable 10-year framework now in place, the NIWA-Parts Central partnership represents an attempt to move the fight against waterway pollution from periodic clean-up exercises to a sustained waste-management system capable of supporting Nigeria’s wider blue economy ambitions.
