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Daniel Adaji
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD) and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have agreed to establish a unified procedure for licensing shoreline developments in Lagos.
At a high-level meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, both agencies resolved to harmonise their operations through a joint technical committee. The committee will define standard processes, clarify roles, and eliminate regulatory overlaps.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa said, “Our operations intersect and are connected. We must act together to bring order by ensuring that our actions follow a clear regulatory framework that respects both the law and our respective institutional mandates.”
The committee will include representatives from FMHUD, NIWA, and other key stakeholders. It is tasked with recommending sustainable guidelines, enabling data sharing, and ensuring enforceable development controls along the Lagos shoreline.
FMHUD, under the Land (Title Vesting, etc.) Act of 1975 and the Land Use Act, manages land titles on federal shorelines and drives national urban policy. NIWA, by virtue of the NIWA Act of 2004, regulates inland waterways, including dredging, ferry operations, and water-based infrastructure on federal waterways like the Lagos Lagoon.
The Lagos State Government also plays a key role in physical planning and building permits within its jurisdiction, as empowered by the 1999 Constitution.
NIWA Managing Director, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, hailed the initiative as “a significant step toward resolving longstanding institutional overlaps.”
“NIWA is committed to working with the Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure that shoreline developments are safe, lawful, and environmentally responsible,” Oyebamiji said.
The meeting reinforces inter-agency collaboration in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable urban development.