By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), in collaboration with Parts Central Limited, is set to unveil a new environmental initiative aimed at tackling pollution and indiscriminate waste disposal across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The initiative will be officially unveiled on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Bic Garden, Lagos, with government officials and private-sector stakeholders in the maritime sector expected to attend.
The programme, developed under the leadership of former NIWA Managing Director and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, is designed as a comprehensive environmental reform initiative targeting sources of pollution and waste within the inland waterways ecosystem.
Under the programme, structured systems will be deployed to remove waste from waterways and convert recovered materials into economic value.
The initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities for communities located along Nigeria’s waterways while promoting environmental sustainability.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project is also expected to improve navigability by removing debris and other pollution-related obstructions from waterways.
The organisers said the initiative would further support the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, including species that remain largely undocumented, while contributing to the development of Nigeria’s fisheries economy.
The programme aligns with the Federal Government’s broader Blue Economy agenda, under which the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has advocated greater economic utilisation of Nigeria’s inland waterways beyond transportation.
READ ALSO:NIMASA, Navy renew MoU to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security
According to the organisers, the waterways have significant potential to contribute to economic diversification through transportation, fisheries, environmental conservation and other maritime-related activities.
The Lagos unveiling is expected to provide stakeholders with details of the initiative and secure their support for its implementation across the country.
In a joint statement, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, and Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, said the event would enable stakeholders to understand the benefits of the programme and contribute to its successful implementation.
The initiative also highlights NIWA’s renewed focus on innovation and sustainable development in the management of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
