In preparation for increased traffic on Lagos waterways during the yultide season, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Lagos office has flagged off massive clearance of water hyacinth from water channels to ease transportation activities and aid safety of waterways users.
The project is ongoing and 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 require at least a week of intense clearing activities, including waste removal and disposal of the troublesome sea weeds.
Engr. Sarat Braimah, Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, stated that 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 during the yultide season when traffic on the waterways is expected to be high.
“We want to do what is right as we approach the Christmas holiday season with expect increase in boat transport activities. Incidentally, the season also heralds the return of water hyacinths around our waterways in Lagos.
“So, the best approach 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 yultide,” she explained.
The Lagos Area Manager also stressed that the project will be extended to Badagry and Apapa water channels, noting that the Ikorodu water channel is most critical for now as the weeds births its 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,” Braimah added.
