From IWD to NIWA, impact on the development of Lokoja, 1956-2007
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Date
2015-12-12
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LAP Lambert Academic Publisher
Abstract
The study examines the importance of the inland waterways in Nigeria, especially
Rivers Niger and Benue, which formed a confluence at Lokoja. The organization
established by the government to manage the waterways and its impact on the
socio-economic development of Lokoja since 1956-2007. A probe into the history
of the inland waterways enables us to capture some of the changes or trends of
event, that have taken place in its host community, especially Lokoja from the
earliest time till the beginning of colonial rule in 1900. This is because, for any
meaningful development in a community, state, and country, there are various
contributions from different people, government, religious organization and
natural phenomenon. The development witnessed by Lokoja can be categorized
under the afore-mentioned contributors but the role played by the inland
waterways is the trust of this study. Since 1902, the colonial government set up
the Marine Department of Nigeria to overlook and manage the rivers and Lokoja
was chosen as the headquarters of the Department up till 1914. In 1956, the
Inland Waterways Department was created to continue the duties of Marine
Department and ensure the navigability of the waterways. However in 1997, the
IWD was transformed into NIWA and vested with Federal power and control over
Nigeria inland water. Lokoja was also chosen as the headquarters of the
Authority. These trends of event on the waterways have impacted the socio-economic
development of the town. From the evidence adduced from the study, it
is therefore clear that despite the presence of other organizations in Lokoja, the
contributions of the bodies that managed the waterways cannot be undermined.
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Hadizat, A.S: (2024), Historicizing Climate Change and Environmental Degradation in the Niger-Benue Confluence Area of Nigeria. Journal of African Studies and Research Forum, 33(2): 49-59. Available online at https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b6c8e7be-b162-49d0-8c99-5f16bd1ecd9b/downloads/EssaySalihu.pdf?ver=1710862172015