The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), through its Lagos Area Office, has initiated a significant operation to clear the pervasive aquatic weed known as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from the Ikorodu axis of the state’s waterways.
This action is a crucial intervention, as the weed’s rapid proliferation presents an annual challenge to navigation and economic activities across Nigeria’s inland water network.
Water hyacinth, an invasive species native to South America, has become a stubborn feature of tropical and subtropical water bodies globally, including the Lagos Lagoon and its adjoining creeks. Its dense mats disrupt oxygen levels, block sunlight, impede fishing, and, most critically for a city like Lagos, severely obstruct maritime transport.
The operation, which began recently at Ikorodu, is being spearheaded by the Lagos Area Office of NIWA.
The NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Sarat Braimah, confirmed the deployment of a dedicated task force charged with mapping out strategic operational measures to efficiently tackle the buildup of the weeds.
The move is primarily aimed at curbing the menace of the aquatic plant, which frequently compromises the safety and efficiency of boat transportation and other essential waterway activities serving the littoral communities.
Ensuring the waterways remain navigable and free from obstructions is paramount, especially given the crucial role water transport plays in alleviating Lagos’s infamous road congestion.
The NIWA team has commenced preliminary clearing operations around the Ebute Ikorodu and Ikpakodo ferry terminal, supported by heavy-duty equipment including specialised swamp devils, harvesters, and other relevant machinery designed for aquatic weed removal.
Braimah emphasised that deploying the task force now is a preventive measure aimed at guaranteeing the smooth movement of both goods and passengers through the Ikorodu waterways — a zone that has unfortunately come to expect recurring infestations of water hyacinth, particularly during certain seasons.
Speaking on the agency’s strategy, the Lagos Area Manager stated, “We have carefully studied the pattern and spread of the water hyacinth phenomenon and have chosen to act swiftly to mitigate its impact before it causes disruption to boat and ferry operations.”
She highlighted that the concern extends beyond transportation, noting the detrimental effects the weed has on the livelihoods of local fishing communities whose access to fishing grounds is severely hampered by the dense floating mats.
“The earlier we address the problem, the better,” she stressed. This localised effort in Ikorodu is part of a broader, national initiative, as she disclosed that the Managing Director of NIWA, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, has awarded contracts specifically to tackle the water hyacinth menace across the country.
This nationwide campaign is intended to ensure seamless passage for the movement of goods and passengers across all of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
Braimah committed to monitoring the progress of the operation on the ground with the contractors throughout the coming week, underscoring NIWA’s commitment to swiftly restoring full navigability.