Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, has hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling against the Nigerian Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA).
The apex court had reportedly nullified sections of the NIWA Act which attempted to give the Federal Government authority to regulate adjoining lands to inland waterways.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on his X handle on Saturday, Moghalu described the ruling as a victory of federalism as he labelled the controversial of the NIWA Act as part of an expansionist agenda initiated by the administration of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“I applaud the Supreme Court decision declaring sections of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA) Act that attempted to give Nigeria’s Federal Government authority to regulate adjoining lands to inland waterways in states as unconstitutional. This is a victory for federalism.
“The Land Use Act is clear that power over lands in states is vested in state governments.
“The specific unconstitutional provisions of the NIWA Act (Sections 12 and 13) was part of an expansionist agenda for federal powers in a federation under the Buhari presidency.” Moghalu wrote.
The ex-CBN Deputy Governor commended the former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola for initiating the suit against NIWA while likening the apex court’s ruling to the Federal High Court’s nullification of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2027 General Election timetable.
‘Kudos to Lagos State Government which brought the suit under the able legal leadership of Babatunde Fashola (SAN), former Governor of Lagos State, and the other states that joined Lagos in filing the suit including my own state of Anambra.
“This is a courageous judgment, just like the Federal High Court decision striking down INEC‘s overreach against the independence of political parties in managing their own affairs.” He said.