The new Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Senator Olorunimbe Mamora has assured that during his tenure, the agelong dispute between NIWA and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) over the collection of duties for the management and supervision of activities on the inland waterways.
Senator Mamora revealed this while reacting to a question during the recent ceremony organized to celebrate the 70th year of the existence of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The NIWA boss assured that he would rather seek peaceful discussions than continue the tortuous legal route, noting that he would resort to out-of-court settlement and put the issue behind for the interest of effective inland waterways management in the country.
Senator Mamora was contributing as a discussant to a special presentation on the topic,“Effective Maritime Security and Safety for Sustainable Maritime Development”
The issue before the court is whether LASWA can be allowed to interlope in the territory of NIWA for the management of water channels and collection of charges.
Speaking to MMS Plus on this conflict, the Principal Counsel, Jean Chiazor & Co. (Ofianyi Chambers) Barr. Jean-Chiazor Anishere told our correspondent that NIWA should allow LASWA to manage certain areas but play the role of a big brother to ensure that LASWA does what it should, in terms of smooth o NIWA is a bigger body; it is the national agency for inland waterways while LASWA is at the state level.
“LASWA’s controversy is that as long as the waterways is within Lagos state, LASWA should be allowed to control and collect dues or charges for the waterways within the state. It’s an interesting school of thought and I tend to agree with LASWA that they could collect charges for areas like Ikorodu to Ajah.peration of the inland waterways and ensuring that the waters are clear for passengers and barge” she said.
She urged NIWA to ensure the waters are clean and security is guaranteed.
“It is when LASWA fails in these obligations within the Lagos territory that NIWA should intervene as the big brother and say ‘look here, do it this way or that way’. NIWA is in-charge of waterways throughout the nation so it should ensure that no state is found wanting” she opined.
As a Lagosian, Senator Mamora is expected to have the interest of the State at heart as he attempts to resolve the dispute.
