The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun River

  • Clearing of Ogun River begins today, says Commissioner

    Clearing of Ogun River begins today, says Commissioner

    The clearing of the dry part of Ogun River near the Ojodu-Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway will begin today, Ogun State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye said yesterday.

    He said the evacuation initially billed to start on Monday was delayed because of unavailability of the equipment needed for the exercise.

    He said the clearing would last for a week or more, depending operation goes.

    The Commissioner said: “We have been waiting since morning from about 9am for the arrival of the equipment. We need mechanised equipment such as barge and graft crane to begin the evacuation. We are expected to commence today but we can’t until tomorrow. By the grace of God with all certainty, work will begin this time tomorrow and hopefully, it should take a week or there about.”

    The Police, he said, had been drafted to the river to prevent people from commuting on the area.

    Oyeleye added: “The root of the hyacinth is fibroid in nature and weaves itself together in form of mat. So unexpectedly, it can give way and open up. People should stop walking on it.”

    People were still trooping to the place yesterday to behold the charming scene. They resisted the police move to stop them from walking and playing in the dry driver despite experts’ warning of the inherent danger.

    A Geologist at the Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) Dr Adegbie Adesina urged government to control the water hyacinth.

    Adesina told The Nation that water hyacinths have come to stay in Nigeria. The seeds of the plant, he said, were in the weeds and would remain there and continues to reproduce if not controlled.

    “Government must watch to prevent the reproduction of the weeds,” he added.

    He said the weeds were fresh water plants, seen yearly in waterways, in the lagoons or on the ocean, adding that the occurrence is not new but a normal phenomenon.

    According to him, such weeds normally multiply during the rainy season and they block the waterways. “The weeds have already blocked the river channel which is common all over the world but, there is need that they are controlled because the seed can reproduce itself rapidly. The plant is harmful, as it is taking over the whole environment and it can stop the development of other plants around that area.”

  • It’s unsafe to play on Ogun River, says govt

    It’s unsafe to play on Ogun River, says govt

    As the Kara Cattle Market end of the Ogun River dried up for good? No, says Lagos State Government, which yesterday warned that the river could “open up anytime with dire consequences.”

    A statement by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adewale Akinsanya, an engineer, said it was dangerous for people to besiege the dry area as the flow of the river was still active beneath.

    The river dried up last Saturday with water hyacinth sprouting all over the place. Since then, people have been besieging the place to see things for themselves.

    Yesterday, some motorists parked on the long bridge around the Ojodu-Berger junction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to see the picturesque scene.

    The clearing of the place did not start yesterday as promised by the Ogun state government on Sunday night.

    Sources said this may not be unconnected with the difficulty in mobilising to site. The work, it was learnt, may start today.

    Urging people to be wary of playing on the dry are, Akinsanya warned them to stop doing so because of the “danger lying ahead.”

    He said: “It is important to notify the public that have been worried about the environmental consequence of a dried up river to note that the flow of the river is still active beneath the vegetation and the situation is been evaluated.

    “However, because of the compacted nature of the vegetation residents and onlookers are of the erroneous belief that the river has suddenly dried up and can walk across the vegetation.

    “A lot of people that have turned the place to a tourist destination are unaware of the danger lying ahead. It’s important for the public to be aware that the vegetation can give away at any time and can lead to a potential disastrous situation.”The Commissioner also advised residents to go about their business and desist from parking on the bridge to take pictures, which according to him was causing serious traffic, hardship and loss of business time to others.”Carrying out any activities on the blockage of this river is unsafe, dangerous and disastrous. Please keep off,” Akinsanya warned.

     

     

  • Keep off Ogun river blocked by vegetation, Lagos warns residents

    Keep off Ogun river blocked by vegetation, Lagos warns residents

    The Lagos State Government has warned residents to keep up the Ogun River, near the Kara Cattle Market which was recently blocked by vegetation, saying that the river could open up at any time with dire consequences.

    Last weekend, the river was taken over by vegetation, caused by a heavy storm, which created a compacted layer over the river.

    Residents in the area were stunned by the incident and turned the area to a tourist site of some sort, with some residents seen walking on the blocked river and taking pictures.

    But the State Government on Wednesday in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr. Adebowale Akinsanya, said it was dangerous for residents to besiege the dry area as the flow of the river was still active beneath.

    He said, “It is important to notify the public that have been worried about the environmental consequence of a dried up river to note that the flow of the river is still active beneath the vegetation and the situation is been evaluated.

    “However, because of the compacted nature of the vegetation residents and onlookers are of the erroneous belief that the river has suddenly dried up and can walk across the vegetation.

    “A lot of people that have turned the place to a tourist destination are unaware of the danger lying ahead. It’s important for the public to be aware that the vegetation can give away at any time and can lead to a potential disastrous situation,” he said.

    He also advised residents to go about their lawful business and as well desist from the habit of parking on the bridge to take pictures, which according to her was causing serious traffic, hardship and loss of business time to other commuters on the road.

    “Carrying out any activities on the blockage of this river is unsafe, dangerous and disastrous.

    Please keep off,” Akinsanya said.