Supreme Court Strikes Down NIWA Land Rules, Restores State Control

The Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision limiting federal control over lands adjoining inland waterways. It declared Sections 12 and 13 of the NIWA Act unconstitutional for non-navigational purposes. The ruling in a suit led by Lagos State held that these provisions exceeded the National Assembly’s powers. The court affirmed that states retain authority over adjacent lands when uses fall outside navigation, maritime activities and fishing. A seven-member panel issued a perpetual injunction preventing the federal government from dealing with adjoining lands for non-navigational uses in Lagos and other states. The judgment covers Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Cross River, Kaduna, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Benue, Rivers, Osun, Oyo and Anambra. This decision is expected to shape waterfront development, land reclamation, environmental regulation and state revenue generation across Nigeria. What do you think about its impact?

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