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Water Hyacinth: An imported invasive aquatic menace NIWA is determined to fight in Nigeria 

Funso OLOJO
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has reiterated its determination to curtail the spread of water hyacinth along the nation’s waterways.
Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic weeds which make inland waterways  channels non- navigable as they spread and cover the surface of the water, destroying the aquatic splendour of the waterways, making navigation near- impossible and killing the creatures.

The menace was imported into the country’s waters in 1980  from Latin American, Amazon Basin, by vessels which scooped the water from the region as ballast water and empty same into Nigeria’s waters.
Since then, the menace has been tormenting waterways transportation, threatening to make navigation a nightmare.
However, NIWA, who is saddled with the responsibility of overlooking water transportation in the country, has taken it upon itself to curtail the spread of this invasive menace through its annual removal exercise to make water transport a seamless and enjoyable experience for passengers and operators.
To give vent to the fight against the menace, the present management of NIWA led by Bola Oyebamiji, has evolved a comprehensive plan to contain the imported menace.
Consequently, the Authority has kicked off a nationwide removal exercise of water hyacinth in all the littoral states of the federation.
The national exercise was kicked off on Monday, October,27th, 2025 at the Lagos office of NIWA where its Area Manager, Engr.Sarat Braimah, mobilized contractors to Ikpakodo Jetty in Ikorodu to commence the removal exercise.
Speaking at the clearing site at the Ikorodu Jetty on Monday, October 27th, 2025, Engr. Braimah disclosed that the removal exercise at the Ikpakodo Jetty will take a minimum of two months and she promised to personally monitor the progress.
According to her, the exercise, which is nationwide, will also take place in Bayelsa and other littoral states.
“The NIWA Lagos Office is here for monitoring and seeing the progress of this job” Engr Braimah began.
“Water hyacinth is an invasive aquatic weeds, causing a lot of menace on our waterways.
“It is always disturbing water transportation, navigation, fisheries, and so on and so forth on the waterways.
“You can see that we have deployed machineries here to clear the water hyacinth.It’s not just for fun. It’s for safety.
“Safety of water users. Safety of the boat owners’ boats because their boats, if allowed to navigate on this water hyacinth, will be damaged.
“Most of their engines will be condemned.
“So that is why the government sees it as giving back to them. That is to make them work on our waterways safely.

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 “That is why we are clearing the water hyacinth.
” Water hyacinth doesn’t go. It comes and goes. It’s a menace that we inherited in Nigeria.
“It is a native of South America, Amazon Basin. Unfortunately, it’s coming into our country through ballast water.
“The ships, when coming to the country, they use ballast water to balance the ship.
“So in discharging this ballast water, some of them discharged with the water hyacinth.
“And since 1980, it has become a problem in our country and  NIWA has come in to clear water hyacinth every year.
“This thing always come out every July, October, November, December, during the rainy season.
“So we continue to clear, we continue to clear, just so as not to have accidents or incidents on our waterways.

” A similar removal exercise is taking place in all the littoral states of the country.
” It’s going to happen next week in Balyesa in Niger Delta and in
almost all area offices of NIWA nationwide.
” But we are kicking off here in Ipakodo. We are monitoring the movements. You know, this thing moves with river currents.
“So as it’s moving, as we are seeing the menace, we are moving with it.
” The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA),  Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has put machineries in place to make water hyacinth not to be a problem to water users.
” Because we cannot completely
eradicate it if it come, but we have to tackle it when it comes”
However, Engr. Braimah further disclosed that plan is afoot to turn the water weeds, when removed,to renewable use through a recycling process.
” About four or five years ago, six years ago, seven years ago, we were sent on a course in Wisconsin.
“I was part of the team that went from NIWA. And when we got there, we were told so many things that this weed can be use for bags, furniture and so on and so forth.
” So research is still ongoing to create a center for the use of water hyacinth” Engr. Braimah concluded.
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Headlines

NIWA partners ICPC to strengthen internal transparency in its operations  

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced new strategies aimed at improving its operational system and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders as part of efforts to boost efficiency and accountability.
Speaking at a post event Press Conference at NIWA Headquarters Lokoja, the Acting Managing Director, Umar Yusuf Girei, while answering questions from journalists stated that, the organization convened a two -day Executive and Anti-Corruption training with the theme “Strengthening Integrity and Revenue System in Inland Waterways Management” organized for Board Members, Management and Area Managers and also 2026 NIWA Management Retreat in Abuja.
The Acting MD noted as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,with the support  Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Authority is focused on aligning institutional goals in ensuring better service delivery to Nigerians.
He further said, as part of its anti-corruption drive, the Management held discussions with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to explore measures for strengthening transparency within its operations.
Girei therefore, assured staff that the ongoing reforms under his watch would translate into improved service and better working conditions.
“NIWA remains committed to continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement and the reforms are expected to enhance both internal performance and public confidence”. he stated.
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Headlines

Navy appoints new Maritime Guard Commander for NIMASA 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime Reporter 

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment of Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki as the Commander of the Maritime Guard Command at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Commodore Adoki takes over from Commodore H.C Oriekeze who has been redeployed.

Commodore Adoki, a principal Warfare Officer specializing in communication and intelligence,  brings onboard 25 years experience in the Nigerian Navy covering training, staff and operations.

 As a seaman, he has commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Kada.
It was under his command that NNS Kada under took her maiden voyage, sailing from the country of build (the United Arab Emirates) into Nigeria.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics.
 He has since earned a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an M.Sc in Terrorism, Security and Policing at University of Leicester, England.
He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA).
He is a highly decorated officer with several medals for distinguished service.

Welcoming the new MGC Commander to the Agency, the Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, expressed confidence in Adoki’s addition to the team, emphasising that it will further strengthen the nation’s maritime security architecture given his vast experience in the industry.

The Maritime Guard Command domiciled in NIMASA was established as part of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to assist NIMASA strengthen operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, especially through enforcement of security, safety and other maritime regulations.

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Customs

Customs collects N1.585 trillion from 51 compliant traders under AEO programme 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), one of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025, has begun to yield bountiful harvests with the revenue growth of ₦362.79 billion recorded in 2025.
According to the AEO scorecard released by the Service, the facilitation tool grossed the sum of N1.585 trillion after certification, an increase revenue from N1.222 trillion before certification.
This represents the growth of N362.79 billion(29.68 per cent) for 51 AEO – certified entities as at October, 2025.
The Programme, according to the NCS,  also contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.
According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.
“The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving.
“Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent while demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention.
” Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per  through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management” the Customs declared in the AEO scorecard.
However, the Service singled out with Eight companies for commendation due to their integrity and compliance under the programme.
The companies include Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
The Service lauded them for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure.
“These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.
Nevertheless, the Service suspended a firm under the programme for its non- compliance and display of lack of integrity.
The suspended firm engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations.
“Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The NCS reiterated that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance.
“While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established.
“The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework” the NCS concluded in the report.
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