Residents of Obirigbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have taken matters into their own hands by manually clearing water hyacinths from the creeks to ease movement and boost local economic activities.
The cleanup exercise, supported by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), is part of an ongoing water hyacinth clearance project aimed at making the waterways safer and navigable.
However, rather than using machines, community members appealed to NIWA to allow them to carry out the work manually so they could earn income and prevent disruption to their fishing and farming activities.
Captain Samuel Ebi, Unit Officer of Marine Services, NIWA Yenagoa Office, said the agency had initially planned to deploy machines but agreed to the residents’ request.
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“The community insisted on manual clearing to avoid interference with their fishing and crayfish businesses. This approach also serves as an empowerment initiative,” he explained.
Ebi added that water hyacinths often obstruct waterways and can cause fatal boating accidents, hence NIWA’s commitment to continuous clearance across affected communities.
NIWA project supervisor, Mr. Sanusi Mohammed, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to make waterways safer and environmentally friendly.
Community leaders, including Chairman of Obirigbene Federated Communities, Mr. Timothy Ebimo, and Vice Chairlady, Mrs. Ebimine Zuokumo, commended NIWA and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for supporting a method that benefits both the environment and local livelihoods.
“This project has created income for residents while restoring our waterways,” Zuokumo said.
