TheCable

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has accused the Lagos state government of “undue interference” in the regulation of dredging activities in the state.

Commenting on the stoppage of dredging  on the orders of Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos state governor, Mu’azu Sambo, NIWA’s area manager in Lagos, said his organisation remains the only body statutorily empowered to grant permit and licenses for sand dredging across the country.

He wondered why the state government, through the Lagos state Waterways Authority and the ministry of waterfront infrastructural development, should have “scant regard for the rule of law”.

“In the past, NIWA used to have issues with Rivers state but it is over,” he said.

“However, in all the 36 states of Nigeria today, it is only Lagos state that we still find dabbling into areas they are constitutionally barred from going into and giving us problems.

“If a state government can’t respect the constitution, then, I don’t know where we are going to because the NIWA Act was drawn up by the national assembly and it has become a law which is derived from the Nigerian constitution.”

Sambo said NIWA carries out environmental impact assessments on dredgers before granting them licenses.

He alleged that beyond the protection of the environment, Lagos state might be more interested in the money it could generate from dredging operators, explaining that the revenues it generates from operators go to the federation account.

On his part, Tajudeen Abioye, managing director, Oji Babs Nigeria Limited, who spoke on behalf of the dredgers, said despite a court judgment in their favour, government officials have continued to harass dredgers.

He showed journalists a copy of the judgment delivered by T. Tsoho, a justice of the federal high court, Lagos, on March 28, 2014.

Tosho declared that it was unconstitutional and unlawful for the Lagos state Waterways Authority and the state ministry of waterfront infrastructure development to demand payments for the operations of boat transporters and dredgers in the state.

According to the judgment, payments for operational activities by the dredgers should be given to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), being the proper agency of government empowered under the constitution to collect such charges and issue licence/permits under the Law of Nigeria.

The court also restrained Lagos from further collecting and imposing charges on the dredgers and boat operators.

Abioye lamented the effect of government’s actions, warning that the youths who have been displaced might take to crime.

“Ajah used to be a high-crime area but that has reduced because we have created jobs for youths in the area,” he said.

“We don’t want anything that will lead to the breakdown of law and order. Lagos state government should please respect the law.”