Transportation minister, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has cleared the air over the controversy between Lagos sate government and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on who has the right to regulate inland waterways affairs in Nigeria.
The minister who had kept mute since the raging controversy between Lagos State government and NIWA broke out recently, told industry stakeholders during the celebration of the World Maritime Day in Lagos yesterday that Lagos has nothing to jubilate about on a recent appeal court judgment over the issue, noting that the decision of the appeal court did not give Lagos the relief to control inland waterways in the state.
Amaechi who was once a governor of Rivers State and a two-term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly took the microphone during the open discussion of a paper on Inland Waterways Operations and Logistics by Capt. Olugbenga Abidoye, to explain federal government position on the issue and urged Lagos State government to obey the laws of Nigeria.
In twist of high drama laced with facts of law and constitutionality, Amaechi reminded his listeners that Lagos State government should seek new frontiers on brown water economy through effective recognition of Nigerian laws and not to fan the embers of unconstitutionality in the quest to control inland waterways.
“There is no law or judicial pronouncement anywhere that gave inland waterways regulation and control to Lagos and that it is the status of constitutional provisions that domiciled these areas in Ministry of Transportation and that of Mines.” Amaechi added to the admiration of stakeholders who rose to applaud his open support to the constitution of Nigeria which empowers NIWA to control inland waterways in Nigeria.
