By the ruling, NIWA has the exclusive control Licensing and control of all inland waterways spanning more than 10,000 kilometres in the country.

The January 5 2024 ruling has finally also put an end to the contentious issue of who controls the country’s waterways.

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.