Water hyacinth crumbles economic activities in Lagos community

Economic activities of the people ofBayeiku, in the BayeikuIgbogbo local government development area of Ikorodu, in Lagos, is now in shambles as water hyacinth has made fishing business difficult for the inhabitants of that community.Investigation by the Nigerian Tribune showed that the community had sent save-our-soul (SOS) messages to relevant authorities concerning their plight several times, until it dawned on the people of the community that neither the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) nor the Lagos State government had anything to offer other.It was learnt that while Governor Raji Fashola was totally engrossed with the business of ensuring his re-election goals, NIWA, on the other hand, was pre-occupied with the task of executing the contract of dredging the lower River Niger.At the community level, we have made many efforts to call the attention of the authorities to our plight, but it had been to no avail, one of the locals, who simply identified himself as Adegun, disclosed, adding that they could also understand why Fashola, for now, might not have any time for them.Fashola is engrossed with his re-electioneering campaigns. But what of the Federal Government he asked, refering to NIWA, noting that since the water hyacinth took over their main business, life had become difficult.When the Nigerian Tribune contacted NIWA spokesman, Mr. A.O Fadile, he explained that only the Lagos Sector Engineer, Mr. Joseph Ororo, could speak on the issue.It would be recalled that NIWA last showed any genuine interest in the business of controlling water hyacinth after some market women and children on business trip from Ilaje waterside area of Ondo State, were trapped at Epe for six days, during the reign of Prince John Okechukwu as Minister of Transport.However, contact with Mr. Ororo also offered no hope as the Sector Overseer merely confirmed that, though the authority was aware of the peoples plight, there was currently no fund to help them yet.We have taken some pro-active measures to ease the impact of water hyacinth in the Lagos area, but we need funds to tackle areas which are seriously affected like Bayeiku. We are waiting for funds, and once we have that, we will also resume work on those areas, explained Mr. Ororo, confirming that for the community, real hope might actually not be in sight.
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