Abuja — The National Assembly has passed the National Inland Waterways Authority (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, a significant legislative reform designed to align federal oversight of Nigeria’s inland waterways with the 1999 Constitution and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The bill, which originated in the House of Representatives, repeals the existing NIWA Act and introduces a new legal framework that clearly defines the scope of the National Inland Waterways Authority’s jurisdiction. It was concurred by the Senate on Thursday, completing its passage through the National Assembly. The legislation will now be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The reform directly addresses the Supreme Court’s May 2026 judgment in a suit filed by Lagos State against the Federal Government (Suit No. SC/CV/541/2025).
The apex court, in a lead judgment read by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, ruled that Sections 12 and 13 of the old NIWA Act were unconstitutional to the extent that they allowed the Federal Government to exercise control over lands adjoining waterways for purposes unrelated to navigation, maritime activities, or fishing.
The seven-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that the National Assembly had acted ultra vires by extending federal powers beyond constitutional limits. The new bill removes the invalidated provisions and eliminates areas of overlap and conflict between the federal and state governments.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the legislation as a “major milestone” that would provide clarity, reduce disputes, and unlock economic opportunities.
“This legislation brings a clear sense of direction to the management of inland waterways in Nigeria. It allows greater participation by state governments as well as the private sector,” Akpabio said.
He expressed confidence that the clearer framework would encourage private investment, improve safety standards, reduce boat accidents, and enhance revenue generation for states while promoting sustainable development of the waterways.
In addition to the inland waterways bill, the Senate on Thursday passed amendments expanding the judicial structure of the Federal Capital Territory to address rising caseloads and speed up justice delivery. It also approved tighter regulations under the National Tobacco Control Act to curb tobacco use, especially among young people, and endorsed recommendations for a National Security Summit scheduled for September 21–23, 2026.
Before proceeding on its annual recess, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion for adjournment, which was seconded by Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro. The Senate is expected to resume on September 15, 2026.
The passage of the inland waterways reform is widely seen as a pragmatic response to constitutional realities and a boost for Nigeria’s inland water transportation sector, which has long suffered from regulatory uncertainty and safety challenges.
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