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By Steve Agbota
As part of efforts to prevent boat accidents and loss of lives, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified its annual clearance of water hyacinth across Lagos waterways, beginning with the Ipakodo jetty in Ikorodu.
NIWA said operations are ongoing to tackle the widespread aquatic invasion that has disrupted transport and navigation while the operations will expand to other littoral states in the next two months.
Addressing newsmen during a monitoring visit to the Ipakodo terminal, Ikorodu, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, described the clearance exercise as a critical safety intervention rather than a routine clean-up.
“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,” she said.
She explained that 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.
According to her, NIWA’s operations are part of a federal government intervention aimed at ensuring safe navigation and sustaining inland water transport, saying it’s a way of giving back to boat operators and commuters who depend on these waterways daily.
However, she added that NIWA 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, the Niger Delta, and other NIWA area offices as the agency tracks the weed’s movement through river currents.
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“We are monitoring the flow as the weed moves, our teams move with it,” she said.
While the financial details of the operation are managed by NIWA headquarters, Braimah hinted at ongoing research and collaboration to turn the challenge into an 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 centre that will help us convert this menace into useful products,” she said.
She added that NIWA and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) are collaborating to ensure comprehensive clearance efforts.
Despite the recurring nature of the weed, Braimah assured that NIWA’s proactive response this year will minimise disruptions.
“We may not completely eradicate it, but we are determined to tackle it each time it appears,” she affirmed.
