The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), hitherto Inland Waterways Department (IWD) of the Federal Ministry of Transport, metamorphosed into an Authority vide an act of the National Assembly, CAP 47, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 (Decree No. 13 of 1997), established with the primary responsibility to improve and develop Nigeria’s inland waterways for navigation.

Our Objectives

  • improve and develop inland waterways for navigation:
  • provide an alternative mode of transportation for the evacuation of economic goods and persons: and
  • execute the objectives of the national transport policy as they concern inland waterways

Our Vision
To make Nigeria the leader in inland water Transportation, development and management in Africa.

Our Mission
To provide regulatory, economical and operational leadership in the Nation’s Inland Waterways system and develop infrastructural facilities for an efficient intermodal transportation system in line with global best practices that is safe, seamless and affordable.

Managing Director

George Moghalu

REGULATORY
We issue licenses for inland navigation, piers, jetties and dockyards; examine and survey inland watercraft and shipyard operators, grant permit and licenses for sand dredging, pipeline construction, dredging of slot and approve designs and construction of inland river crafts

ENGINEERING
Our wide range of engineering services include construction of inland river-ports and jetties; engineering design of river ports. We also undertake in capital and maintenance dredging.

MARINE
As part of our marine services, we remove and receive derelicts wrecks and other obstructions from inland waterways; clear hyacinth and other harmful weeds. We engage in boat construction/repair and other dockyard services.

TRANSPORT
NIWA is equipped with a number of vessels enabling us to operate ferry services (for economic goods and passengers) and run cruise boats (for tourism and leisure).

SURVEY
We carry out hydrological and hydrographic surveys, river chart production, cartography, river mapping and aerial survey.

ENVIRONMENT
We carry out environmental impact assessment of navigation and other dredging activities within the inland water and its right of ways.

Have a boat or vessel ?

Registering a boat is required by law much like with a car and the rules and guidelines for how this process is done and what kind of watercraft must be registered are dictated by NIWA.