The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has backed a major initiative to clean up Nigeria’s inland waterways in a renewed effort to tackle environmental pollution, improve navigation, and unlock the nation’s blue economy potential.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, in Abuja.
The statement describes the project as a landmark intervention that will transform the management of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
According to the statement, the project, initiated during the tenure of the immediate past Managing Director of NIWA, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, mandates indigenous environmental firm Parts Central Limited to provide strategic oversight and implementation support for the nationwide clean-up programme.
It states that the initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges such as indiscriminate waste disposal, oil spills, and environmental degradation across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
According to the statement, the programme will identify major sources of pollution, remove waste from waterways, and introduce sustainable waste-to-wealth initiatives capable of creating jobs for communities along the waterways.
“Beyond environmental restoration, the clean-up exercise is expected to improve navigational safety by removing obstructions that hinder water transportation, while supporting fisheries, conserving aquatic resources, and strengthening economic activities within the marine sector”
It adds that the initiative also aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting a cleaner and more efficient inland water transport system capable of attracting local and foreign investment.
According to the statement, Onifade assures Nigerians that the programme will be implemented professionally with a focus on transparency, sustainability, and measurable environmental impact.
The statement calls on government agencies, private sector operators, host communities, environmental organisations, and other stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that collective action is critical to achieving cleaner, safer, and more productive waterways across the country.
