Authorities at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has said it plans to commence the arrest and prosecution of persons or organizations that are engaged in the salvaging, cutting or scrapping of shipwrecks within persons right of ways in Rivers State.
NIWA stated that the organisations or persons who engage in such activities without any prior concern, permission and or approval by its personnel, would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The authority in a statement made available to theportcitynews on Tuesday also expressed great concern over the unauthorized and reckless wrecks salvaging and cutting within the waterways which currently constitute a serious danger to waterway users in Rivers State.
According to the statement: “The Authority would commence arrest and prosecution of persons or organizations engaging in the salvaging and cutting or scrapping of wrecks within persons right of ways in Rivers State without any prior concern, permission and or approval by the authority.
“We finally reiterated that NIWA is the only government agency vested with the power to remove, receive and dispose of wrecks within its declare d right of ways”, it added
