The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified its annual clearance of water hyacinth across Lagos waterways, beginning with the Ipakodo jetty in Ikorodu, where operations are ongoing to tackle the widespread aquatic invasion that has disrupted transport and navigation.
During a monitoring visit to the Ipakodo terminal, Ikorodu, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, disclosed that the clearance efforts will also be extended to the Niger Delta waterways, particularly Bayelsa waters in the coming months.
“This effort is not just for beautification; it’s about safety. If we allow boats to navigate through this invasive weed, their engines will be damaged, and water users will face serious risks,” the NIWA Lagos Area boss said.
According to Engineer Braimah, the water hyacinth, a fast-spreading aquatic weed native to the Amazon Basin in South America, found its way into Nigerian waters through ballast water discharged from ships since the 1980s.
“Now, it reappears seasonally between July and December choking waterways, obstructing boats, and impacting fisheries and local livelihoods,” Engineer Braimah added.
She explained that NIWA’s operations are part of a Federal government intervention aimed at ensuring safe navigation and sustaining inland water transport.
“It’s a way of giving back to boat operators and commuters who depend on these waterways daily,” she said.
The Lagos Area Office, she added, has deployed heavy-duty machinery, including a “Swamp Devil,” which cuts through dense vegetation to clear navigation channels and restore safe passage for ferries and cargo boats.
Beyond Lagos, the clearance campaign will extend to Bayelsa, Niger Delta, and other NIWA area offices as the agency tracks the weed’s movement through river currents.
“We are monitoring the flow — as the weed moves, our teams move with it,” Braimah explained.
The NIWA Lagos Area Manager also hinted at ongoing research and collaboration to turn the challenge into opportunity. She recalled a training programme in Wisconsin, USA, where water hyacinth was found to have economic potential — usable for bags, furniture, and herbal products.
“Research is ongoing to establish a center that will help us convert this menace into useful products. NIWA and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) are collaborating to ensure comprehensive clearance efforts.
“We may not completely eradicate it, but we are determined to tackle it each time it appears,” she affirmed.