NIWA, Firm To Launch Nationwide Inland Waterways Cleanup Initiative
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), in partnership with Parts Central Limited, is set to unveil a nationwide initiative aimed at cleaning up Nigeria’s inland waterways and improving navigation.
The environmental initiative, scheduled to be officially unveiled in Lagos on August 18, 2026, will deploy structured systems for removing waste from the waterways and converting recyclable materials into economic value.
In a joint statement, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, and Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Onifade, said the unveiling would provide an opportunity to brief stakeholders on the benefits of the programme and secure their support.
According to the statement, the initiative is designed to promote environmental sustainability, create employment opportunities and improve the livelihoods of communities located along the waterways.
The project, developed jointly by NIWA and Parts Central Limited, was conceived under the leadership of the immediate past Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, who is now the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Osun State.
The comprehensive environmental reform programme will focus on identifying sources of pollution and addressing the indiscriminate disposal of waste within Nigeria’s inland waterways ecosystem.
NIWA said the removal of debris and pollution-related obstructions would improve navigation while also supporting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, much of which remains undocumented.
The initiative is also expected to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s fisheries economy by creating cleaner and healthier aquatic environments.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has consistently advocated the strategic utilisation of Nigeria’s inland waterways beyond transportation, positioning them as important drivers of economic diversification under the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
NIWA said the planned unveiling further demonstrates its commitment to innovation, environmental sustainability and the development of the nation’s inland waterways.
