The unending feud between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Government (LASG) over dredging activities seems to have taken another dimension as NIWA has frowned at what it described as an attempt by the state House of Assembly to ambush the laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria which mandates NIWA to oversight access through the waterways.
This was conveyed in a statement signed by the Technical Adviser, Media to NIWA Office, Mr. Frank Meke on Tuesday.
According it him, the warning is sequel to moves by Lagos State House of Assembly to ambush the regulatory powers of NIWA.
He also accused the state lawmakers of interfering in the activities of dredging companies through the composition of a seven-man committee to investigate and make recommendations on dredging activities in Lagos State, a development NIWA consider as deliberate and subtle attempt to muzzle its mandate and expose it to national ridicule.
Meke also stated that the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, had in a letter to the Lagos State government which was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, called on the state government to caution the leadership of State House of Assembly to stop forth with, the current posturing which is a clear breach of peaceful resolution between NIWA and Lagos State government, over clash of interest on dredging and sundry waterway matters.
The letter reads in parts, "That as a prelude to the full understanding of the matter under reference, you would recall that there was a recent clash between National Inland Waterways Authority and Lagos State waterfront and Infrastructure Development during which our staff and indeed companies registered with us were arrested by your staff and arraigned before special offences court, the resolution of that imbroglio I believe is still under consideration"
The NIWA boss however warned that the action by the Lagos State law makers may be a clog in the ongoing efforts by the agency to reach an amicable settlement of vexed issues at hand.
Moughalu also drew the attention of the state government to the extant laws on Minerals and Mining act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which clearly states that where there are issues arising from the operations of any licenced operator of the federal government, Section 141 of the act and sections 15, 16 and 17 of the regulation made pursuant to the above act has made copious provision for its resolution.
Dr George Moghalu further informed the state government that a ruling of the court of Appeal in Mining cadastral office vs Petroleum and Transport Investment LTD and another (2018) LPEIR 46046 which cleared the air on the vexed issue and further recognizes waterway use permit exclusively within the ambit of NIWA.
"May I in simple words, emphasize that matters within the exclusive list of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria are outside the legislative competence of the state government as they are within the competence of the National assembly" he said.
He nevertheless urged the state government to respectfully forward his observation to the leadership of the State House of Assembly.
Discussion about this post