FG, Lagos, End 10 Years Dispute Over Waterways Regulations
The Federal Government through its agency, the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA) and Lagos State Government on Monday resolved their differences spanning over ten years over waterways regulation by signing mutual agreement on modalities for waterways regulations in the state.
The two structures of government have been in contention over who controls activities on waterways in Lagos State, resulting in the Lagos State government seeking judicial interpretations on the matter.
The Managing Director, of NIWA, Senator Olorunibe Mamora who disclosed this to journalists during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos said the decision was in the best interest of both parties.
“I am excited and I cannot thank you enough for this agreement. You were excited when I mooted this agreement to you. I also want to thank your predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode, since government is continuum. Our desire is possibility of settling outside the court.
“Today, the agreement is actualized. And for us at NIWA, it is all about what is going on in legality. Much more important to me is the good of our people and that is why I am looking at the area of legality. You do not need court intervention to ensure safety of the people. We want surveillance and revenue is the least important issue that we need to pay more attention to on waterways”, he said.
Sanwo-Olu, in his address congratulated the two agencies of government regulating the waterways at both federal and state levels that had found it right to collaborate and end issues on collection of revenues and authority on right of way.
He said,”It is actually important to tell each other that collaboration is important if government agencies cannot come together, how can investors come into the country to invest their resources.
“Transportation is one of the cardinal points of this administration. We also want to assure investors and partners that issues around water regulations have been eased out.
“Safety on the waterways is paramount and that is one of the things that we have discussed during the signing of this agreement. We must demonstrate that Lagos is the centre of excellence and it is important for us to improve the ease of doing business in the state as it is important to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We will continue to be a major player and we should not forget that one-third of the state is covered by water. And we need to develop water tourism. I will like to commend NIWA participating in the agreement. We must understand that we are in government to ease the burden of the people.”
