By Dotun Ibiwoye

Over the years, the littering of water hyacinth along the water ways in Lagos State has continued to pose a major challenge to several administrations in the state. The menace caused by this water weed has forced several residents, especially fishermen and transporters to abandon several waterways, even as a lot of damages have been done on the propellers of boats.

Against this backdrop, the state government through its Public Advice Centre, PAC, disclosed that it would soon start the conversion of water hyacinth into fertiliser for farmers.

Mr Alex Omorodion, an official of PAC, stated that in Lagos, most of the water hyacinth would be used for the benefit of the people.

According to Omorodion, Lagos State Government would employ some private contractors, alongside the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, for the water hyacinth conversion project.

He also stated that hyacinth breeds mosquitoes which had been of great health challenge to the state.

“Lagos State is addressing this issue by engaging contractors, alongside LAWMA, who would clear the hyacinth from the waterways. Water hyacinth is a natural phenomenon that occurs anywhere you have a large or medium scale water body, he said

Adding that “the natural phenomenon is that there is no way the breeding of these insects can be stopped but it can only be controlled or minimised. Instead of just throwing the hyacinths away, the Lagos State Government is looking into ways to convert them into fertiliser and papers.”

At the public presentation of the Lagos State Development Plan 2012-2025, held at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babatunde Fasola had said that the water transportation networks are expanding constantly which include the Ferry terminals in Badore, Ikorodu and Osborne.

He said that in terms of connectivity, the ridership on water transportation today in Lagos is in excess of 1.5 million passengers per month from barely 150,000 passengers per month in 2007, adding that there are over 250 licensed ferries and taxis running on Lagos Waterways already.

“So the water transportation networks are also expanding. The Ferry Terminals in Badore and Ikorodu have been finished, the one in Osborne is almost completed but some people have taken us to court that they don’t want the Terminus near their residence, so those are issues we have to go and thrash out in court, he said.

Conversion of weed

“The Ferry is there, the Bus Terminus is already laid there and hopefully the next government would make the final connection. At Mile-2, the jetty is reclaimed, the Mile-2 Train Terminus is already built, Orile Train Terminus is already built, Costain Train Terminus is already built, so there are four Terminus already in place and more are on their way.

Reacting, Adelabu Phillips who lives in Ijora said: “When the weed on our water-ways are converted to fertilisers or papers, I will be very happy. It does not matter to me if it is converted into fertiliser of Nigerian currency. All I want is the government to clear it out of the waterways. It is worst than anything you can imagine. I am really glad that the government is looking towards it.”