The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Braimah, in a statement on Friday, said the development is due to strange rebounds of water hyacinth, which affected the Ikorodu water corridors.
Recall that a commercial passenger boat, ‘Oyebola Marine’, on Thursday, caught fire at the loading point in Ikorodu Ferry Terminal. All passengers onboard the boat were rescued alive.
Speaking on the incident, Braimah, maintained that she had ordered an immediate suspension of boat operations to and from the Ikorodu ferry terminal.
She said the move was to avoid breakdowns of boat engines and avoidable boat mishaps by the water hyacinth in the area.
“In the alternative, and pending when a navigable passage access can be created, I have directed all registered boat operators to relocate all operational activities to Majidun until a navigable and safe route is established and approved by NIWA,” she added.
According to her, “To effectively oversight this directive, the Ikorodu Chapter Chairman of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria, Mr Mojofodun Olusoji, has been mandated to ensure all operators in the axis will comply with the directive to avoid risking the lives of people.,” Braimah said.
Braimah added that NIWA has detailed its marine safety corp and police command to condone off the affected areas in Ikorodu.
“We are not taking chances at all with this water hyacinth, which has presented an unusual stubborn resistance and rebound despite our sustained efforts to check its menace,” the area manager explained.
The NIWA Lagos boss explained that the movement of boats in and out of Ikorodu terminal has been laborious over time, “Forcibly impacting boat engines and causing delays.”
She added that NIWA is concerned about the safety of both operators and passengers.
“Hence the directive to relocate all operations to Majidun and to suspend activities to Ikorodu terminal until we can create a safe navigable corridor” she concluded.
