The National Inland Waterways Authority ((NIWA) has begun an intensive clearance of water hyacinth across Lagos waterways, starting with the Ipakodo jetty in Ikorodu, where thick clusters of the weed have disrupted transport and channel navigation.

During a monitoring visit to the terminal, it was observed that water hyacinth had overrun the area, obstructing the movement of passenger and cargo boats.

To address the problem, the Lagos Area Office of NIWA deployed heavy-duty machinery, including a “Swamp Devil,” designed to cut through dense vegetation, clear navigation channels and restore safe passage for ferries and cargo vessels.

The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Braimah, told journalists that the clearance exercise was a critical safety intervention, not a routine clean-up.

According to her, the water hyacinth, a fast-spreading aquatic weed native to the Amazon Basin in South America, entered Nigerian waters through ballast water discharged from ships in the 1980s. It reappears seasonally from July to December, choking waterways, obstructing boat traffic, and affecting fisheries and local livelihoods.

“This effort is about safety. If we allow boats to navigate through this invasive weed, their engines will be damaged, and water users will face serious risks,” Braimah said.

She explained that the clearance operation was part of a Federal Government intervention to ensure safe navigation and sustain inland water transport, as well as to support boat operators and commuters who rely on the waterways daily.

Braimah noted that the exercise would extend beyond Lagos to Bayelsa, the 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,” she said.  While the financial aspects of the operation are being managed by NIWA headquarters, Braimah hinted at ongoing research and partnerships aimed at turning the challenge into an economic opportunity. She recalled a training programme in Wisconsin, USA, where water hyacinth was found to have potential for use in the production of bags, furniture, and herbal products.

“Research is ongoing to establish a centre that will help us convert this menace into useful products,” she said, adding that NIWA and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) were collaborating to ensure comprehensive clearance.  Despite the recurring nature of the weed, Braimah assured that NIWA’s proactive response this year would minimise disruptions.

“We may not completely eradicate it, but we are determined to tackle it each time it appears,” she said.