Supreme Court Grants States Control Over Waterway Lands

On [date not specified], the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a significant judgment in suit no SC CV 541 2025, ruling that states have constitutional authority over lands adjoining inland waterways. The court found sections 12 and 13 of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Act unconstitutional, as they allowed the federal government to regulate land adjacent to waterways for purposes unrelated to navigation and maritime activities.

The ruling came after Lagos State, supported by several other states including Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Ogun, challenged the federal government's control over these lands. The seven-member panel, led by Justice Moham Lawal Garba, granted a perpetual injunction restraining the federal government from interfering with state control over such lands.

The court maintained that while the federal government retains authority over navigation and maritime activities, it does not extend to general control over adjoining lands within states. This ruling is expected to have major implications for waterfront development, land reclamation, and urban planning in Nigeria.