National Inland Waterways
Authority (NIWA), has urged operators and other stakeholders in the
sector to ignore the seven-day ultimatum given by the Lagos State
Government to quit its waterways.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, on
Thursday, in Lagos, NIWA’s Area Manager, Muazu Sambo, said stakeholders
in the sector should continue their operations without any fear of
molestation, as the state government lacked powers to regulate their
activities.
Sambo said the Appeal Court judgment
delivered on July 18, did not give the state government the right to
prevent them from doing their legitimate business.
Besides, he said, the agency had appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court.
“This interactive session with
stakeholders in the sector is necessary to clarify issues resulting from
the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on July 18, 2017.
Alausa does
not have the power to make laws in respect of the international and
inter-state waterways in Lagos State,” he said.
“Item 5, Second Schedule, Section 10, of
National Inland Waterways Authority Act says: ‘Intra coastal route from
Badagry Creek to Lagos, through Lagos Lagoon to Epe, Lekki Lagoon to
Iwopin, along Omu Creek, Talifa Live I to Atijere, Akata. Aboto. Oluwa
River to Okitipupa and onto Gbekebo. Arogbo. Ofunama. Benin Creek to
Warri, including the canal running from Araromi through Aiyetoro Imelumo
to Benin River and from Aiyetoro through Mahin Lagoon to Igbokoda are
declared as federal navigable waterways’,” Sambo further explained.
He, however, urged the water transporters and dredgers to be conscious of safety in doing their businesses.
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