The Lokoja Leagues for Justice has accused the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) of failing to address the growing deterioration of inland water transport infrastructure in Lokoja, despite hosting the agency’s national headquarters.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Abdullahi Ibrahim, the group said water transport in the confluence city had suffered years of neglect, leading to abandoned boats, collapsed ferry services, and widespread reliance on unsafe wooden canoes.
According to the group, the situation presents a “tragic contradiction,” as the agency mandated to regulate and develop the nation’s waterways operates in the midst of visible infrastructural decay.
Maigari Raises Concern
The group recalled that the Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, recently raised concern over grounded NIWA boats and the worsening condition of river transport across the Niger and Benue.
It said the traditional ruler’s alarm reflected the daily struggles of residents and riverine communities who lack access to safe and reliable transportation.
Abandoned Boats Along Riverbank
The statement described the banks of the River Niger, directly in front of NIWA’s headquarters, as a “growing graveyard” of rusting and abandoned vessels. Residents and fishermen were said to have complained that the wrecks obstruct navigation, damage fishing equipment, and pollute the river.
The group faulted NIWA for failing to clear the wrecks, saying the agency had allowed rot to thrive at the entrance of its own head office.
Collapsed Ferry Routes
It also lamented the collapse of major ferry routes, including Lokoja–Shintaku, Lokoja–Idah, and Lokoja–Onitsha, saying government-owned ferries that previously served the corridors had long been abandoned.
The Lokoja–Shintaku route, described as a key link for thousands of commuters, traders and farmers, has forced users to depend on poorly regulated wooden canoes lacking basic safety equipment.
The group blamed the collapse on lack of dredging, absence of functional jetties, failure to maintain government ferry boats and weak coordination between NIWA and local authorities.
‘Bureaucratic Paralysis’ at NIWA
The Lokoja Leagues for Justice further alleged that NIWA’s headquarters had become “a hub of bureaucratic paralysis,” citing inconsistent dredging activities, weak safety enforcement, idle patrol boats, minimal community engagement and lack of modern navigational tools.
Wasted Maritime Potential
Despite Lokoja’s strategic location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, the group said residents continue to suffer high transportation costs, declining fish resources, frequent accidents and lost tourism and economic opportunities.
Demands
The group called for immediate government intervention and listed its demands to include:
Removal of abandoned vessels along Lokoja’s shoreline
Repair and reactivation of NIWA’s ferry fleet
Restoration of the Lokoja–Shintaku ferry route and other corridors
Construction and rehabilitation of standard ferry terminals
Strict enforcement of safety rules, including mandatory use of life jackets
Regular dredging and mapping of waterways
Ibrahim said the actions were urgent and necessary to safeguard lives and revive economic activity in the area.
