Inland Waterways comes to the rescue of Lagos boat operators
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has deployed three swamp devils to break and unlock the blockage of navigational routes in Lagos state.
Form Epe to Badagry and Ikorodu, water weeds have affected transportation, and has brought untold hardship to both commuters and boat operators.
At Ikorodu jetty, where NIWA officials have been stationed to stem the weed tide and growth, boat operators applauded the round the clock presence of the swamp devils and called for an effective solution to the seasonal presence of water hyacinth in the state.
Ganiyu Balogun, president Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATION), lauded NIWA.
He said without the presence of swamp devil machines, water transportation would have been grounded in the state.
He promised that his association will partner with the agency to ensure free flow of movement throughout the festive period and beyond.
Mauzu Sambo, Lagos area manager of NIWA, disclosed that NIWA will soon deploy its massive and giant water weeds harvester in addition to the swamp devils as part of the strategy to stem the menace of water hyacinth on Lagos waterways.
“NIWA as eye of the federal government will find a solution to this development,” he said.
“We are not satisfied with any palliative arrangement and that is why our team is stationed here until we eradicate and provide solution to end users, particularly at a period like this when Lagosians and their families would want to visit friends and others heading to beaches.
The Swamp Devils that NIWA owns are excellent at shredding water hyacinth to open the waterways and provide immediate relief – sort of like a “green icebreakers.” Use of the Swamp Devils also reduce the volume of the water hyacinth, which increases the harvesting yield by two to three times.