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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is charting a new course in its battle against the invasive water hyacinth, moving beyond annual clearance operations toward establishing a research and recycling centre that will transform the aquatic weed into valuable economic products.
During an inspection of ongoing clearance operations at the Ipakodo Jetty in Ikorodu, Lagos, NIWA’s Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, revealed that the agency is pursuing research collaborations to convert the persistent environmental challenge into a source of livelihood and innovation.
Her words: “Research is ongoing to establish a centre that will help us convert this menace into useful products.
“We have seen in other parts of the world, like Wisconsin in the U.S., how water hyacinth can be recycled into bags, furniture, and various eco-friendly products.”
Water hyacinth, a fast-spreading aquatic weed native to the Amazon Basin, has long plagued Nigeria’s waterways, reappearing seasonally between July and December. It clogs navigation routes, damages boat engines, disrupts fisheries, and undermines local livelihoods.
NIWA’s current clearance campaign, witnessed at the Ipakodo Jetty on Monday, is part of a nationwide operation aimed at ensuring safe navigation and supporting inland water transport.
Amid the ongoing Lagos operations, spearheaded by Braimah, the NIWA Lagos Area boss observed that waterways transport activities haven’t been stopped as the Authority has deployed a heavy-duty Swamp Devil machine to cut through dense vegetation and restore safe passage for ferries and cargo vessels.
“If we allow boats to navigate through these weeds, engines will be damaged and passengers endangered. Our job is to make sure the waterways remain navigable,” Braimah posited.
She added that while the financial and logistical coordination is handled by NIWA headquarters, the Lagos Area Office is committed to maintaining transport operations even as clearance continues. The exercise is also being conducted in collaboration with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) for broader impact.
Beyond Lagos, the clearance programme will extend to Bayelsa, the Niger Delta, and other NIWA area offices, as the agency monitors the weed’s spread along river currents.
“We may not completely eradicate it, but we are determined to turn it into opportunity rather than waste,” she said.
With this shift toward research and resource recovery, NIWA aims to reposition the fight against water hyacinth from a recurring cleanup challenge to a circular economy initiative that supports jobs, innovation, and ecological resilience along Nigeria’s inland waterways.
