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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday begun the process of ridding the State’s waterways of debris and hyacinth, with the view to boost water transportation and positively scale up activities relating to the waterways.

Speaking at the commissioning of two Water Hyacinth and Debris Removal Machines held at Ebute Ero Jetty, the Governor said for a long time, hyacinth which is otherwise known as aquatic weed, had been a major source of concern with attendant challenges to the waterways sector.

Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Engr. Abisola Kamson; Representative of Lagos State Governor & Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Chairman/C.E.O, Lagos Ferry Services, Hon. Paul Kalejaiye and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Engr. Adeyemi Abidemi at the demonstration of the Weed Harvester Equipments during the commissioning of Water Hyacinth Removal Machines at the Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island, on Thursday, October 13, 2016.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said the machines were purchased by his administration to frontally address the challenges posed by water hyacinth, adding that same was in line with the strategic implementation of Lagos master plan for the waterways.

He said, “We have bought the machines to take away debris and hyacinth from the Lagoon. The machines will encourage water transportation and this initiative is necessary now that we are working towards clean-up of the waterways.

“It will also encourage fishery so that the water economy will be improved upon,” the Governor said.

Newly commissioned Water Hyacinth Removal Machines at the Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, October 13, 2016.

In her welcome remarks, Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Engr. Abisola Kamson, said the commissioning was a dream come true as the machines would go a long way in eradicating the menace of water hyacinth on marine ecosystems of the State particularly the Ikorodu, Ajah, Badagry, Lagos Island, Oworonshoki, Mile 2 and Epe axis.
She said aside negatively affecting the socio-economic activities of fishermen and inhabitants of the riverine communities, water hyacinth, which is a seasonal threat, had brought about damages to propulsion system of boats thus affecting water transportation.

Giving technical insight as to the workings of the machine, Kamson said it acts like an underwater lawn mower and cuts the vegetation, as well as collects and store weeds and debris, while it is fitted with a pick up conveyor at the forward end which can be lowered up to six feet deep into the water for effective cleaning of the waterways.

She said: “This symbolic gesture by the Lagos State Government is jump-starting the clean-up of our waterways and preparing ground for other revolutionary activities of LASWA’s development plan to transform the Lagos Waterways to world class standards.
Newly commissioned Water Hyacinth Removal Machines at the Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, October 13, 2016
Newly commissioned Water Hyacinth Removal Machines at the Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, October 13, 2016
“To us at LASWA and indeed the entire waterways family, we will remain ever grateful to Governor Ambode and the entire State cabinet for arming us with teeth to bite the water hyacinth menace that continuously traumatize our waterways.”

She also pledged that the machines would not be under-utilized, assuring that they would be deployed immediately for clean-up of the waterways.

Besides, Kamson said arrangement had been concluded with the Ministry of Environment to increase monitoring activities with the view to ensuring that those who disrespect the waterways through dumping of waste, pollution, defecation and other illegal activities are made to face the full wrath of the law.

On his part, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Association of Tourism Boat Water Operators, Chief Wellington Ilori-Akingbulu commended Governor Ambode and his team for the initiative, saying the machines would go a long way to remove the incessant accidents and engine problems caused by water hyacinth and debris.

http://www.newshelm.com/2016/10/photos-lagos-state-government-begins.html

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One idiot has used this to siphoned more money from the public pulse, u see again another project that will never be sustained

Wow! This is a commendable effort from d governor.

gud to knw

makelove2m:
One idiot has used this to siphoned more money from the public pulse, u see again another project that will never be sustained

lol @ hateful, bitter and disgruntled crying anti Nigerian ipob....


When sensible and competent governments like Lagos state do great things like buying and deploying modern machinery to clean up the waterways, it is a bad thing and attempt to steal?


And when they don't do anything like they do in your village nko? It's a great thing

Lagos is steady moving forward even ahead of Nigeria, but your village where they don't siphon money can not do anything and they have nothing to show for the taxes and allocations they collect on your behalf.....

So, who is really the mumu and who are they siphoning??


silly ipobs...

Its good to see that the Lagos State Government is doing this particularly because it has lots of waterways within the state.

Two things though come to my mind when reading this story:

1) I hope the government and the LAWSA have also incorporated the use of biological control to deal with the water hyacinth because these machines might end up being over worked and breakdown.

2) Those machines don't look complex to build and maintain. I hope the govt has a plan to fabricate the parts and eventually build theirs instead of having to rely on importing every bit of those machines when the need arises.

Nice one let's decongest the road

Nice development, hoping to see something like the picture below

But wait o! Why is the colour of our lake so so yamayastic?

Development is very easy. It's only in Africa we make it look like it's mission impossible.

Kudos to the state government.

Okare Ambode

Hmm your state of mind is wonderful

makelove2m:
One idiot has used this to siphoned more money from the public pulse, u see again another project that will never be sustained

Nice one frm the working governor Ambo One

Good Job!

Great to see this!
Pretty amazing.
At least he is doing something even our Federal Government have refused to do.

This state is far above any state.... they should even buy some state.

ambode is working

They don't need to remove it with machine. By Feb next year, when the lagoon would be highly salty, the weeds will die off

before you say jack, they will abandon this project.
Nigeria sef!

Good development, this will reduce the number of accidents cause by this water hyacinth and also open the water ways for commercial activities.

Ambode is making steady and gradual progress.

Gud work my Governor

arresa:
lol @ hateful, bitter and disgruntled crying ant Nigerian ipob....


When sensible and competent governments like Lagos state do great things like buying and deploying modern machinery to clean up the waterways, it is a bad thing and attempt to steal?


And when they don't do anything like they do in your village nko? It's a great thing

Lagos is steady moving forward even ahead of Nigeria, but you village where they don't siphon money can not do anything and they have nothing to show for the taxes and allocations they collect on your behalf.....

So, who is really the mumu?


silly ipobs...

ooooooh you shouldnt have bothered replying the guy.
Some ppl are born not to like seeing people aroud them develop and do great things!.
i can smell decayed beans in his brain

I pray this is sustained so our waterways can look close to what we have abroad, though I'm not a Lagosian, this is a good development for the country at large..

No be later some i.diots will go back in the night to begin bend down while some will be busy practicing shot put instead of going to rep us at the Olympics , day & night patrols are needed..

Hope Gov. Wike sees this

arresa:
lol @ hateful, bitter and disgruntled crying ant Nigerian ipob....


When sensible and competent governments like Lagos state do great things like buying and deploying modern machinery to clean up the waterways, it is a bad thing and attempt to steal?



And when they don't do anything like they do in your village nko? It's a great thing

Lagos is steady moving forward even ahead of Nigeria, but you village where they don't siphon money can not do anything and they have nothing to show for the taxes and allocations they collect on your behalf.....

So, who is really the mumu?


silly ipobs...

Everybody is an IPOB to you

I guess you are always the bitter one

And I can bet you aren't even from Lagos State.

Bro, take it easy. The guy is entitled to whatever he believes in

Stop having headaches


Meanwhile, kudos to the Lagos State government

Tripleoluwa:
They don't need to remove it with machine. By Feb next year, when the lagoon would be highly salty, the weeds will die off

You can't wait for nature to do a job you can do yourself. That would mean putting water transportation and everything else concerning the coastal region that's affected by these weeds on hold till nature "does it's job". What if, for some freak reason, nature fails to deal with it? That would mean all that time spent waiting would be a complete waste.


Besides, water hyacinth aren't the only debris floating in the Lagos lagoon.

Good, this would control flooding...

Eko oni baje O! O baje ti!

while a governor is there arresting Cow

Ambode on fire! He's on top of his game, many initiatives left and right.