NIWA Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown On Illegal Jetties, Unsafe Water Transport

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified efforts to dismantle illegal jetties and curb unsafe water transport operations across the country as part of measures to improve safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

The Chairman of NIWA’s Governing Board, Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, disclosed this during a media briefing held as part of a tour of the agency’s projects and facilities in Lagos.

Shagari, who led the tour alongside members of the Governing Board and NIWA’s Managing Director, Engineer Yusuf Buba Garba, identified illegal jetties and widespread non-compliance with safety regulations as major threats to safe navigation on the nation’s waterways.

He said the authority is strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to boost enforcement of existing regulations and ensure operators adhere to prescribed safety standards.

According to him, the partnership will provide additional support for NIWA marshals, enhance monitoring activities, and improve compliance across the country’s inland waterways.

Shagari reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting safe, secure, and efficient inland water transportation through strict enforcement of safety regulations and sustained engagement with stakeholders.

The National Inland Waterways Authority is responsible for regulating navigation on Nigeria’s inland waterways, including the enforcement of safety standards, development of water transport infrastructure, and licensing of operators.