FG moves equipment to Lagos to tackle water hyacinth

Dele Aderibigbe, Lagos - 19.03.2008

THE battle to contain the menace of water hyacinth in Nigeria got a boost at the weekend as Federal Government drafated state of the art equipment to Epe in Lagos.

The equipment, which included the Water Devil, and Water Master, it was learnt, had also been distributed to several water weeds predominant areas, including the the Niger Delta areas and Yelwa.

Speaking during the inauguration of the equipment, the Minister of State for Water Transportation, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, said government decided to complement manual clearing with mechanical, hence, the acquisition of the Water Master 111 equipment.

He said the equipment would be assisted by Swamp Devil, a barge and a tug boat as cutting edge to subdue water weeds menace.

“The blocked channel of Epe was cleared to navigable level, but was later re-infected by the weeds due to the fact that the location is subject to winds/ tidal movement, both from the East and West ends. Also, the flash point at Epe lagoon is the narrowest location of the channel between the eastern and western ends, with shallow depths and sharp bends, which has made it a gathering point for the weeds,” the minister, represented by the Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yakubu Subairu stated.

He assured those already providing manual services that the government placed premium on them and as such would continue to rely on them as direct contact with each affected community.