Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Umar Yusuf Girei, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining clean, safe and sustainable inland waterways across the country.
Girei made the pledge as Nigeria joined the global community in commemorating the 2026 World Environment Day, themed ‘Urbanisation and climate change: Building resilient cities for a sustainable future.’
In a statement issued at the NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, the NIWA boss extended goodwill to cities across the country, noting that urban centres are increasingly expanding around waterways, which remain critical hubs for commerce, culture and economic activities.
He, however, warned that rapid urbanisation continues to exert pressure on the environment, resulting in challenges such as rising temperatures, flooding and erosion, which require urgent and coordinated responses.
According to Girei, inland waterways serve as natural infrastructure for building urban resilience, explaining that properly managed rivers and channels help reduce flooding by functioning as drainage pathways while also providing a cleaner, low-carbon means of transporting goods and passengers.
He reiterated NIWA’s commitment to responsible dredging operations, protection of riverbanks and sustained efforts to keep waterways free from pollution and indiscriminate waste disposal.
The NIWA chief stressed that environmental protection is a collective responsibility and cannot be left to the government alone.
He urged Nigerians to support environmental sustainability by disposing of waste properly, planting trees along riverbanks, reporting illegal dredging and encroachment activities, and participating in initiatives aimed at protecting the environment.
Girei also encouraged greater adoption of water transportation, describing it as a safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternative to road transportation.