Lagos state, water transportation and water hyacinth

Your Excellency

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode

Executive Governor

Lagos State

Compliments of the season!!!

Please permit me to personally wish you an early Happy New Year in advance and equally say well done on the good work your administration has started doing and hopefully will continue to do. I can attest to some of the positive changes that have begun to sprout from your administration and this again only shows you are a listening Governor. However, as a passionate indigene of Lagos State and one who likes to always see positive development, I will like to use this medium again to reach out to you concerning the environmental state of the Lagos Waterways.

On Tuesday 22nd of December, 2015 you communicated through your social media handle, which I follow closely and were you mentioned to Lagosians about your plans to fully operationalize our multi-modal transport system through the construction of new jetties. This will be a welcome development for taxpayers in Lagos State; at least we will get to see our monies work for us and used judiciously.

Building new jetties is a fantastic idea but I will strongly recommend that the existing jetties should be the main focus. They should be revamped, upgraded and rebranded before additional ones are built with taxpayer’s monies. A good example is the Oworonsoki Jetty, which will be a good starting reference – it will automatically reduce the pressure on the Third Mainland Bridge. Let us not make the proposed new jetties look like the old jetties because we have chosen to shift our focus to new ones when we have existing ones that have not been functional and worse off not properly managed and maintained. Let me stay focused on the matter at hand for now – Water Hyacinth (Eichhomia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach). We will address boats, ferries and jetties at a later date.

I will want you to note that before or during your planning for the multi-modal transport system i.e. water transportation; our waterways need to be safe, clean and attractive for the users. The spread of water hyacinth, aquatic plants and floating debris on our waterways need urgent attention before the newly proposed revamped Lagos water transportation system becomes fully and optimally operational.

As much as I want to believe that most of the passengers who will make use of this revamped transport system in the state do not know how to swim, It is still my strong believe that they will still like to see clean clear water without any unwarranted concerns or fears of possible and avoidable danger while being transported on water. Of cause, it is also expected that Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) the regulatory body that lays down the water transportation rules and regulations MUST ensure compliance by operators to international best practice.

A local firm, Two Edge Partners Global Ltd has spent the last couple of months carrying out serious research & study on water transportation and its challenges along the Lagos waterways. However, along the course of their work, it was reported that Water Hyacinth and Aquatic Plants are a primary problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Though a natural phenomenon that occurs when you have a medium or large-scale water body as seen in our lagoons, ponds and canals. Water Hyacinth breeds’ mosquitoes and this is another major health hazard as it can grow & spread rapidly.  Surprisingly, it can form floating mats up to 2m thick.

Water Hyacinth being a natural phenomenon cannot be totally eradicated or stopped but it can be controlled and minimized. People who live near water hyacinth affected areas tend to turn such places into their trash, garbage or human waste disposal depot.

Since the Lagos State Government now has big plans for water transportation, this water hyacinth is a major obstruction to smooth flow of navigation along the waterways for those in the business of water transportation. Its combination with other floating debris and waste can get caught up in the propellers of some boats and ferries, a possible disaster that can be prevented and avoided – God forbid such be the reason for any boat or ferry accidents or mishaps.

As harmful as water hyacinth can be, they can also be converted to organic fertilizers and animal feeds for farmers. This is a major input in farm and soil management in some of the over fifty countries where water hyacinth is a threat. Some countries spend so much to clean up polluted waters; a good example is Brazil, which has spent over US$700m to clean its waters in recent times in preparation for the 2016 Olympics water sports.

Equipment’s such as Aquatic Transporters, Aquatic Skimmers, Shore Conveyors, and Weed harvesters are effective and efficient ways and means of cleaning our waters. We implore the Lagos State Government to partner with firms that offer such expertise and services to give hope to the intending passengers who will eventually make use of the proposed multi-modal transport system by the Lagos State Government.

After all, a true sign of positive development and democratic growth in a city like Lagos would be when we begin to see the elites, white collars’ and well to do join the masses to take the available public transport system provided by the state government i.e. the anticipation of a revamped Water Transportation system.