Battling water hyacinth: How Lagos inland waterways are navigating the crisis 

By 7 a.m. on a Thursday morning in December, the engine of a small banana boat carrying 17 passengers roared to life at the Ebutte Ferry Terminal in Ikorodu.

With life jackets fastened, the boat set off, heading towards Ikoyi.

However, the journey was anything but smooth.

Dense mats of water hyacinth, stretching over 50 meters from the dock, quickly slowed the boat. The consequences of not slowing down are severe.

Forcing a boat through water hyacinth can damage the engine—particularly one of its six pistons, which costs about N150,000 to replace.

Operators say the damage rarely stops at the piston; related components often fail as well, compounding repair costs.

Despite these challenges, fares have remained unchanged even after the appearance of water hyacinth in September and October, as operators absorb the costs rather than passing them on to commuters.

The driver stopped, and a deckhand lifted the engine to manually remove entangled vegetation from the propeller.

This is a common occurrence for smaller vessels on Lagos inland waterways. While not all boats have to clear entangled water hyacinth manually, they must slow down and arduously navigate through the mats, which sway the vessel and test the patience of operators and passengers alike.

Once the propeller was cleared, the boat picked up speed. About 15 minutes into the ride, the vastness of the water seemed to merge with the sky on the horizon. Canoes with fishermen, busy with their morning catch, cut through the water.

After 25 minutes, the boat arrived at the Sandfill Ferry Terminal on Victoria Island. After a quick stop, it continued to the Five Cowries Terminal at Falomo, completing the trip in 28 minutes.

Over four trips were conducted over a two-week period, following the initial early morning rush to Ikoyi, and key stakeholders were engaged in the persistent challenge of water hyacinth.

At the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, Emu, an employee of a private inland water transport company, explained how mats of water hyacinth often clog boat propellers, forcing smaller boats to stop and clear the vegetation.

“The mats form near the docks and along the waterways, especially in the mornings and evenings,” he said.  

“Forcing a boat through them could damage the engine, and piston replacements alone cost about N150,000.” 

Chris, a regular passenger from the riverine areas of the South-South region and a resident of Ikorodu, noted that water hyacinth affects waterways beyond Lagos.

He emphasized the plant’s significant potential, saying, “This plant has so much potential and is underutilized,” and called for innovative solutions to transform the challenge.

Checks online reveal that water hyacinth can also be used in the production of fish feed and repurposed into handcrafted home essentials.

Engr. John Ovie, an Ikorodu resident who frequently commutes to Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi for work, shared his concern about the risks of capsizing due to improper navigation through water hyacinth.

“If not navigated properly, the mats of water hyacinths can destabilize the boat,” he warned. 

At the docks, Ovie pointed out a harvester that had been out of service for some time. An anonymous official from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) confirmed the harvester’s fault but emphasized that it is typically used to clear the invasive plant.

A Christmas Day 2024 report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) highlighted the issue, noting that passengers at Ikorodu Ferry Terminal were stranded due to water hyacinth blocking the waterways.

Dayo Ibrahim, an official at LASWA’s Five Cowries Terminal, shared that the Lagos State Government invests heavily in clearing water hyacinth but did not specify the amount.

He also mentioned a partnership with MitiMeth, which repurposes the plant into handcrafted home essentials, providing a sustainable solution.

The invasive water hyacinth has become a formidable challenge on Lagos inland waterways, causing delays, increasing operational risks, and necessitating frequent maintenance for boat operators. Its dense mats not only disrupt travel but also test the resilience of the waterways’ infrastructure and call for innovative and sustained management efforts.