Water Hyacinth removal: NIWA, LASWA making false claims- Ikorodu residents 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Passenger who are regular boat users and residents of the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have advised the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and its counterpart, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to stop emphasising on their ability and efforts to remove water Hyacinth from boat routes in the area.

They queried the ability of the agencies claim to effectively remove the weeds for safe navigation of boats as the weeds naturally move out of the channels and may likely return later on it’s own in evenings.

They noted that the agencies have little or noting to do with hyacinth removal or control from the waterways.

One of the passengers who spoke to Nation Update who identified himself as Obi Austin counselled the agencies and other government agencies to better concentrate their efforts more on wreck removal from the inland waterways in Lagos.

Water weeds removal he said is not enough an achievement that warrant celebration on the pages of newspapers and much fanfare.

However, many other passengers interviewed on the basis of the recent claim by the agencies: LASWA and NIWA as having removed the water weeds on the Ikorodu route said whatever claim on the removal of the weed must have been haphazardly executed as it’s presence was prominent around the jetty.

In about two weeks ago, the federal and state agencies of government have separately claimed to have removed the said weeds from the Ikorodu inland waterways which obviously may have gulped huge amount.

The situation and such alleged ‘frivolous’ claims have continued to worry passengers and communities in the area who have continued to express great displeasure over duplication of functions on vegetation removal by the two regulatory agencies which in turn has yielded no positive result in aiding ferry and boats navigation in the area.

Obviously several boats were seen anchored at the Ikorodu jetty with the weeds grazed all around them last Monday.

During the visit by our correspondent, It was observed that water weed removal equipment belonging to NIWA has been laying unused for a long time now.

Given the huge cluster of the weed at the jetty area in particular, movement of passengers and goods in and out of the boats were extremely difficult causing passengers to hop from one boat to another in a bid to access the jetty, exacerbating tension, worry and regrets in them.

Some of the passengers who spoke with Nation Update as they were disembarking narrated that proactive step needs to be taken towards addressing safety of passengers on that route.

Speaking further, a passenger also on the same route who would not want her name mentioned expressed disappointment on the poorly executed claimed removal of water hyacinth by the authorities saying such exercise could only yield fruit when it’s carried out regularly on the Ikorodu inland waterways particularly.

She made a passionate appeal to both the federal and state governments to empower the authorities to do more towards ensuring safe navigation of passengers and goods on the area especially now life has become so unbearable for average Nigerian.

The National Inland Waterways Authority it will be recalled had deployed its massive swamp devil machines to attack and clear pervasive water hyacinth vegetation, which has obstructed navigation on water channels in ebbutte areas of Ikorodu in Lagos state.

According to NIWA, the project, which was a direct and proactive response by the federal water transportation regulatory agency to call by boat operators was strategic to keeping Lagos waterways free from such obstacles and a head on efforts to assure boat operators and water transportation stakeholders of their safety.

In the same vain, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) stated that it had kick started the annual clearing and removal of water hyacinth away from ferry routes across the state.

Emmanuel

The General Manager, Lagos State waterways Authority, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel while speaking to newsmen on Wednesday 4th of October 2023, explained that pegging and clearing of the Water Hyacinth have commenced at Ikorodu ferry terminal and other areas with very high infestation and impact on navigation.

He said LASWA alongside other stakeholders are collaborating and have mobilized adequate Labour force and machinery to commence the clearing of the weed immediately.

The LASWA GM added that the first phase of the project is pegging down the water hyacinth to curtail its movement and infestation across ferry channels, followed by proper clearing of the aquatic weed using both manual Labour and weed harvesting machines.

This effort in no doubt will mitigate the occasional damage of Boat Engines caused by this floating aquatic plant and will eliminate delays in travel time while promoting the use of water transport as a viable alternative that is safe, fast and secure.

Mr. Oluwadamilola reiterated the state government’s commitment towards improving safety standards and procedures of the state inland waterways so to achieve the safety of all Waterways users, he advises Boat Captains to always drive with caution during this season of Ember months and avoid night travel while soliciting maximum cooperation of all stakeholders.

The water Hyacinth weeds rear up its fangs from October to late December, every year, a natural phenomenal occurrence that impedes boating activities and aggressively disruptive of fishing activities on inland waterways.