Water hyacinth has taken over Saga Village, a riverine community in Epe, Lagos, rendering movement perilous and water transportation inaccessible for residents.
Florence Solomon, a crayfish farmer who captured the situation in a video, attests that the invasion has persisted and worsened over time.
“It started early February, then we still managed to go out but it got to a point where we were unable to return. We would then have to alight at Emina and then trek the whole one and a half-mile distance home.
“But as it is now, we can’t even venture out anymore. It’s been two months.”
The proliferation of water hyacinth has not only disrupted movement but also posed health hazards, emitting a foul smell and contaminating drinking water sources. With no alternative, residents must trek to neighbouring Emina Village for potable water, further exacerbating their plight.
“It has caused health hazards as hyacinth is emitting a foul smell. We no longer have drinking water, unless it rains. And if it doesn’t rain, we have to trek one and a half miles to Emina, another community to fetch drinking water for our community. We’re suffering and we want the Lagos State government to come to our aid.”
Perebotei Williams, the chairman of Saga Village, decried the lack of government intervention in the village. He urgently called upon the Lagos State government to address the crisis, citing the deaths of two community members last year due to the invasion.
The yearly recurrence of water hyacinth from late January to May leaves the community grappling with five months of inconvenience and suffering. Access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and basic amenities is severely compromised. The absence of government support compounds the community’s distress, despite their participation in electoral processes.
“The problem of water hyacinth that we’re facing is annual. After the December period and when it’s January, water hyacinth will come and block everywhere: no water to drink, bath and farms become inaccessible. We always trek down to the other village (Emina) to go to the river.
“That is where they can then catch fishes and wash their nets, which is also a very dangerous journey because they have to move as early as 1:00 am in the morning. So I have to always give some people money to clear the road.
“My people also have to trek more than one and a half miles to buy garri and then come back to feed their families. We also have to trek to Emina again to fetch water as our water is always undrinkable during this period. Fishes die also.
“Our school children are also subjected to this harsh condition before they can get to their schools.
“There is serious hunger in the land during water hyacinth’s invasion for people that live here. And farmers can’t also move their farm produce to sell in the nearby communities.
“Last year, we lost two of our people who contracted cholera due to the fact that there are no medical facilities present in our village. Before we could rush these people on foot to Emina and then boarded a boat to Epe where we could get a clinic to treat them, they had died along the way.
“We don’t have any government support here and yet we vote here during election periods; no jetty, no government-owned, no clinic. The only thing I can point to are solar panels donated by APC and PDP during campaigns, yet we pay revenue Lagos State government.”
When asked if he had reached out to Princess Surah Olayemi, the chairman of Epe Local Government and informed her about the issues being faced by the community.
“I’ve never met with my local government chairman before because it has been difficult for me to meet with her. We’ve written several times to book an appointment with her but we were told our letters were not approved.”
The plight of Saga Village underscores the urgent need for government intervention to alleviate the suffering of its residents and mitigate the impact of water hyacinth infestation on their livelihoods and well-being.
@freelanews Water hyacinth invades Epe riverine communities #foryou #tiktoknaija #following #goviral ♬ original sound – Freelanews
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