News

Supreme Court Grants NIWA exclusive right to control Nigerian inland waterways

Licensing and control of all inland waterways spanning more than 10,000 kilometres in the country has been restored to National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in a ruling by the Supreme Court on Friday, January 5, 2024.

By this judgement, Lagos State and some littoral states are to abide by the judgement.

Before now, there had been a protracted legal tussle between the Federal Government and Lagos State Government over which of them controls waterways in Lagos with huge economic potential.

However, the latest judgement has empowered NIWA to control, regulate and sanitise boat operators and dredgers in all the nation’s waterways.

It also grants the authority to generate more revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government.

In a judgement written and delivered by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, the apex court refused to be drawn into the argument of resource control, insisting that such extensions belong to politicians, who have the power of amendment of the construction.

According to him, until the applicable sections of the Nigerian constitution are amended, the court will restrict itself to its duty to interpret the law as it is.

Before the latest judgement, NIWA had contended with Lagos State Government that the lagoon and Lekki lagoons were exclusively within its control, stessing that any illegal activities within NIWA Right of Way would not be tolerated

Based on a 2014 judgement captured in suit CA/L/886/2014- Lagos Waterways Authority and 3 ORS V INC Trustees of Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria and 5 ORS, the right of all waterways in Nigeria and shorelines was ceded to NIWA.

The authority noted in a statement that it “shall within the laws and constitutional provisions, ensure that it keeps trespassers out of its Right of Way (RoW) and may where necessary deploy the federal might to bring the oppositions to adhere to do right things and to stop further intimidation of federal government licensed stakeholders.

“it is instructive that we bear in mind that the law as it stands today, and encapsulated in the court of appeal judgement states clearly the areas of competence of both governments -Federal and State in the following words- Item 5 in the second schedule to the National Inland Waterways Act was the relevant provision for the navigable route that falls under the exclusive legislative list and it provides thus: The intra coastal route from Badagry, along the Badagry Creek to Lagos through Lagos Lagoon to Epe, Lekki Lagoon to Iwopin along Omu/Creek Talifa Lively to Ajilete , Akata, Aboko, Arogbo, Ofunama Benin Creek to Warri, also the canal running from Araromi through Aiyetoro. Imelumo to Benin River and from Aiyetoro through Mahin Lagoon to Igbokoda.”

In addition, NIWA explained that the route runs through International and states boundaries and was therefore consistent with being an item on the exclusive legislative list, adding that revenue accruable from this federal route would be payable to the authority.

Commending the Supreme Court judgement, the Managing Director of the authority, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, said that all NIWA was established for was to harness the potentials of the sector,, one that the apex court ruling has now given teeth.

“This judgement has come at a time Mr President gave directives to maximize the benefits of the sector in all the ways it will enhance the economy and empower Nigerians.

“With President Tinubu”s determination to open up the economy through the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the leadership of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola as the Minister, this judgement will bolster our efforts and help to facilitate the processes of developing the sector. ” Oyebamiji said.

The NIWA helmsman went on to explain that the judgement is about consolidation of water transportation, tourism and sundry economic empowerment of the people, and not about who won or lost at the Supreme Court.

“This is not about who owns what won or lost. This is about Nigeria and Nigerians benefitting from our God-given endowment. It is about the common good and rebuilding the sector for greater opportunities.

A nation cannot be this blessed with navigable coastal line without exploring and maximizing the benefits for the good of all. So, this is not about a court victory. This is about the greater good and the need for us to explore the potentials of our inland waterways for the benefit of our people.

“If we put to good use Nigeria’s potential in the coastal areas in the area of transportation for instance, it will reduce the pressure on our roads and improve citizen interactions.”

News

Bandits kill one, kidnap district head, eight others in Kebbi

Bandits have kidnapped Alhaji Isah Daya, the district head of Kanya under the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The bandits kidnapped the monarch and eight others when they stormed his village on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

The bandits also k!lled one and injured three persons during the attack.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Nafui Abubakar, who confirmed the attack, gave the name of the deceased as Sherriff Alhaji Almu.

According to the PPRO, a combined security team led by the police has launched a manhunt on the abductors of the monarch to rescue the abducted persons.

He noted that the Kebbi State Government has provided the needed logistics to tame banditry in the affected towns, particularly Kebbi South, Zuru Emirate.

The attack came a few days after bandits k!lled the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Suru Local Government Area of the state.

News

FG mobilises Julius Berger to complete N820b road projects

The Federal Government has told Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the 82-kilometre Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway and the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route 430 in Rivers State.

Works Minister David Umahi said the government could not continually negotiate with the contractor over the same projects.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, during a meeting with Julius Berger, represented by its Executive Director for Projects, Benjamin Bott, and the Head of Contract Management, Omonigho Brown, the minister stressed the need for contractors handling Federal Government’s projects to exhibit corporate nationalism in price negotiation in the face of the daunting economic challenges facing the country.

Umahi said the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on September 23, approved the re-scoping and downward review of the contracts.

He said: “We have Section II, which is 82 kilometres by two, which is the section that JBN Plc is working on.

“And so, if you check what FEC approved on September 23, FEC had approved that the total contract sum within the scope of Berger would be N740 billion. This means that if you remove N391 billion paid already, you now have about N340 billion remaining. This is the scope of their work for the 164 kilometres.”

The minister urged the contractor to mobilise for work on the four sections of the Abuja-Zaria-Kaduna-Kano project to finish the job within 14 months.

News

Police thwart plan by armed men to kidnap a foreigner in Anambra, recover four dead bodies

Police Operatives in the morning of Sunday, October 6th, 2024 thwarted the abduction/kidnapping plan of a foreigner by suspected armed secessionist members in Ogbunka village.

The Operatives courageously engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and saved the VIP.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer who disclosed this in a statement said during the gun duel, two Police Operatives who were hit by bullet escaped with the foreigner.

He added that they are stable and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

Meanwhile, Operations are ongoing in the area for the possible arrest of the Armed men.

Also, Police operatives attached to Nimo Police Station responded to a distress call on 6/10/2024 by 8:25 pm of a suspected cult clash at Umuka, Nawfia. The Operatives upon arriving at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot injuries lying on the road.

The victims were confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and have been deposited to the morgue.

They were later identified as one Ebuka Nwaonkwube Ekenta of Mmimi village Nawfia, Nnatuanya Junior A.K: A Starboy of Mmimi village Nawfia, Aniemena A.K.A Osama of Umuariam Village and one Ahmed Auwal.

Information from eyewitnesses and some villagers reveal that the victims are known for their nefarious activities and are always in rivalry with another cult group in the area.

Furthermore, Joint patrol with Operatives of the Special Anit Cultism Squad (SPACS) has been intensified in the area.

In another development, the Commissioner of Police *CP Nnaghe Obono Itam* has ordered
immediate investigations into the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old girl suspected of being used for ritual purpose.

The girl’s lifeless body was found in a bush at Omasi village on 6/10/2024 by 4:25 pm and she was later identified as one Chinasa Adigwe from Umueje village and her private parts were cut off in a bush at Omasi Village before Police were alerted. The body has been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

The CP while condoling with the family, friends and Community of the deceased states that the Police shall do everything possible to make sure that those behind the barbaric act are arrested and justice served.