Water Hyacinth: NIWA Clears Lagos Channels, Targets Accident Free Yuletide

In preparation for increased traffic on Lagos inland waterways during the yuletide season, the Lagos Area office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), begins massive clearance of water hyacinth from the water channel.

The removal of Hyacinth was to ease transportation activities and aid safety of waterways users during the yuletide season.

In a statement by the Lagos Area manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, the clearance is an ongoing project that will cover the critical Lagos channels with high traffic of boat movements , starting with Omu creeks and Ikorodu water channels.

“Already,  Omu creeks have been cleared while  the Ikorodu channels will take at least a week of intense clearance activities,  including waste removal and disposal of the troublesome sea weeds.

“The effort is part of the agency’s key operational responsibilities and mandate to ensure smooth and safe sailing by boat operators and other stakeholders preparatory to the yuletide season when traffic on the waterway is expected to be high.

We want to do what is right as we approach the Christmas season with expected increase in boat transport activities.

“Incidentally,  the season also heralds the return of water hyacinth around our waterways in Lagos, so the best is to proactively clear them even though the weeds have the capacity to rebound, but we are ready to sustain a safe passage for boats operations during and even after the yuletide “ she further explained.

On the same operational focus in other parts of Lagos,  the area manager informed that the project will be extended to Badagry and Apapa water channels.

She noted that the Ikorodu water channel is most critical for now as  the weeds make their way to other parts of Lagos littoral communities from this location.

“We are working round the clock to ensure this effort is sustained during this period and also the deployment of our River marshals to help keep eyes on boating operations during this period.  It’s an expensive project and very demanding, but we are equal to the task as our staff are out there daily to ensure we deliver, “ the area manager added.