There are indications that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) may drag the Lagos State Government to court over alleged encroachment on some of its properties in the state.
NIWA new Managing Director, Hajia Inna Mariam Ciroma disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during an inspection tour of Federal Government’s facilities in Lagos.
She told reporters that there are laws that govern both federal and state governments, adding that the laws of the federal superseded that of the state.
There are indications that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) may drag the Lagos State Government to court over alleged encroachment on some of its properties in the state.
NIWA new Managing Director, Hajia Inna Mariam Ciroma disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during an inspection tour of Federal Government’s facilities in Lagos.
She told reporters that there are laws that govern both federal and state governments, adding that the laws of the federal superseded that of the state.
She noted that the laws that established NIWA clearly states the ownership of some facilities in Lagos state and insisted that it is unacceptable for the state government to allegdly trespass and pass a law through the state House of Assembly.
Speaking further she said, "we will talk with the Lagos state government, dialogue is better than going into legal tussles, we will see if we can dialogue with Lagos state government to see how we can resolve this issue in our interest, but if that fails we will also employ legal means to ensure that we recover our rightful properties from Lagos state government".
The NIWA boss disclosed that the Attorney General of the Federation will be briefed about the alleged encroachment of the Federal Government properties which is currently under the possession of the Lagos state government.
She added that the facilities in the state are important to generate revenue for the federal government, noting that Lagos state is the hub for foreign investors.
Ciroma who described water transport business in Lagos as a lucrative venture that will relief pressure of the roads said that NIWA will partner with the private sector and foreign investors to ensure that government succeeds in inland waterways transportation.
She pointed out that NIWA has some basic challenges which have to do with fund and the agency’s area offices to go after its debtors who use its facilities.
Underscoring the determination of the Federal Government to engage the private sector in its development strides, she added that the parastatal under the ministry transport are desirous of engaging the private investor to develop the facilities for efficiency, and adding specifically that NIWA is poise to do that for the sake of efficiency of the inland waterways transportation in the country.
She assured that the NIWA management will put in place measures on how to make the waterways viable for purpose to generate revenue for the government.
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