Communities in Bayelsa decry the threat posed by water hyacinths, writes to NDDC for help.

Many local communities in Bayelsa State’s Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local governments have voiced concern about the profusion of water hyacinths in their rivers.

The communities complained that the water plants had turned into a disturbing threat, making the movement of people, goods, and services along the waterways a nightmare.

The communities’ complaints were made under the auspices of the Ekeremor LGA and Southern Ijaw LGA Boundary Communities Association of Chairmen of Communities Development Committees.

Azagbene, Clough Creek, Ngoloba, Egbemo-Angalabiri, Kolotoru, Tububoboama, Opukushu, Azatitor, Agbibiama, Derifamoama, Tububou, Koromotoru, Gbaraun, and Ukparatubu I and II are a few of the communities affected.

In a letter dated February 13, 2023, they complained, copying the officer in command of the Maritime Police Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command. The letter was directed to the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

In a copy of the letter signed by the chairmen of their CDCs, Tuekorokumo Perebo (Azagbene); Jacob Manash (Clough Creek); Doudighe Dinana (Ngoloba);  Gbeye-emi Didiwei (Egbemo-Angalabiri); Solomon Pateigha (Koromotoru); Tutor Teiwei (Gbaraun); among others, they claimed that the water hyacinths would also pose a serious challenge to the timely arrival and departure of electoral officers and materials for the 2023 general elections.

They requested the NDDC to act quickly to eradicate the water hyacinths, spare the people from hardship, and facilitate free movement and water flow.

The local residents remembered that they had faced the threat in the past but had been saved by an indigenous seismic company called Optimal Star Services Ltd.

The letter read, “The water hyacinths barricades had caused a lot of worries to both residents and travellers in the waterways which comprises the creeks, rivers and swamps, which are the only travelling routes in the maritime or littoral areas of ours.

“If an urgent step is not taken to solve an emergency situation of the waterways clearing, the INEC materials for the forthcoming elections will not get to the polling booths for voters to commence voting on time, which may likely derail the process , hence this plea.

“We, therefore in the light of the foregoing, respectfully recommend the aforementioned seismic company and trained indigenous contractor, Optimum Star Services Ltd, an expert in water hyacinths and other snags clearing, for your commission to quickly contract to clear the waterways within a short while to allow the waterways free for easy movement of people, goods and services.”