For years, waste dumped into Lagos waterways has posed a threat to navigation, aquatic life and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the water.

Now, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Parts Central Limited have launched a 10-year renewable initiative to tackle the problem.

The initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is aimed at removing waste from the waterways, improving navigation, protecting aquatic life, creating jobs and supporting the development of Nigeria’s blue economy.

Under the programme, a structured waste management system will be established for boats, jetties, landing ports and waterfront facilities across Lagos State.

Speaking at the unveiling, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, said the partnership was designed to ensure that the nation’s inland waterways remained clean, safe and navigable.

Braimah said the programme would involve waterfront owners, dredging operators, boat operators and other users of the waterways, stressing that their cooperation would be crucial to its success.

She urged waterfront owners to provide appropriate waste disposal facilities and called on companies operating along the waterways to properly treat and dispose of their waste.

The Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Onifade, said the company would deploy technology to cover waterfronts, landing ports and jetties as part of the initiative.

He disclosed that boats and other watercraft operating on the waterways would be provided with designated waste bins, while larger “mother bins” would be installed at jetties to allow operators to offload collected waste when they dock.

Onifade appealed to stakeholders to support the initiative and cooperate with cleanup teams, noting that the success of the programme would depend on collective responsibility.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ekundayo Alebiosu, said the initiative highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Federal and state governments in protecting the waterways.

Alebiosu said keeping the waterways clean, safe and usable should remain a priority because the condition of the aquatic environment directly affects fishing, navigation and the wider waterfront economy.

He, however, raised concerns over the environmental impact of illegal dredging, saying the activity could disturb the underwater environment, threaten aquatic life and force fishermen to travel farther in search of fish.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Maritime Police Command, Udu Ogechi, described waterways protection as both an environmental and security responsibility.

Ogechi warned that unsafe waterways could increase the risk of accidents and loss of lives, stressing that Nigeria’s economy depended significantly on maritime activities.

She also noted that polluted waterways could endanger aquatic life and contribute to boat accidents.

For the tourism sector, the National Association of Nigerian Travel Operators (NATOP) President, Bolaji Mustapha, said cleaner and safer waterways were essential to the growth of water-based tourism.

Mustapha recalled an incident in which a tourist boat became stuck on the waterways while transporting foreign visitors, saying such experiences could influence how international tourists perceive Nigeria.

She urged NIWA and Parts Central to intensify awareness campaigns among waterfront communities and waterway operators on the need to protect the environment.

The initiative, stakeholders said, is expected to provide a more organised approach to waste collection and disposal on the waterways while encouraging users to take greater responsibility for keeping Lagos’ aquatic environment clean. (Guardian)