Water Hyacinths Are Assets Not Weeds- Chief Lexzy

The

President of African Federation of Freight Forwarders (AFOFF), Mr. Lexzy Nwangwu has admonished the government to be more resourceful in dealing with water hyacinths in the country. 

During an exclusive chat with MMS Plus, Mr. Nwangwu spoke on the sudden takeover of the Ogun river by water hyacinth.

He stated that it was erroneous that the aquatic plant is considered a nuisance in its entity in Nigeria in spite of researches of many advanced countries that have proven otherwise.

He disclosed that the plant which is more than 95% water can be used in a variety of valuable ways because of its fibrous tissue, high energy and protein content.

“I am aware that some countries actually plant water hyacinths because of its benefits. Why should it be considered a nuisance in Nigeria when it is useful in other areas of the world?

“We can use it as fuel the same way it is done in India. Paper, fibre board, yarn and ropes, baskets, charcoal briquetting are all things we can do with water hyacinth. So why throw away the baby with the bad water”, Nwangwu queried.

He urged government to commission studies on the uses of the aquatic plant and open up those areas for investments rather than discard the plant as weed.

According to Chief Lexzy, “rather than destroying water hyacinth because of the navigational challenges it poses, it could be harvested and sent to factories where they will be processed into finished products”

Mr. Nwangwu argued that in so doing, the society will be equipped with the necessary technologies and empower many job seekers.

Water hyacinth is in many quarters referred to as the world’s worst invasive aquatic weed due to its rapid proliferation rate and the detrimental challenges it poses to water transportation and aquatic life.

In 2012, Dr (Mrs.) Funmilayo Doherty initiated the Water Hyacinth project in YabaTech and she has been mentoring students through her Water Hyacinth project, to turn the invasive plant into a money maker, training them on how to make different eco friendly hand craft, biogas and animal feed from the plant.

She teaches students on how to harvest the plant, dry it and weave into products that can be sold by the students. Research is still ongoing in YabaTech on the bioremediation ability of the plant, construction of a drying machine among others.

Water hyacinth is found in lakes, estuaries, wetlands, marshes, ponds, slow flowing rivers, streams, and waterways in the lower latitudes where growth is stimulated by the inflow of nutrient rich water from urban and agricultural runoff, deforestation, products of industrial waste and insufficient wastewater treatment.

In Nigeria almost all river bodies have been dominated by water hyacinth. The plant can be found in several coastal communities in Lagos State such as Ikorodu, Epe, Ojo, Owode Onirin, Oworonsoki, Lagos Lagoon, Ebute Metta, among others. The weeds often serve as hideouts to dangerous reptiles, especially snakes and crocodiles.