A large number of riverine communities in Burutu, and Warri South West local governments’ areas have been blocked from getting access to Warri by waterweeds popularly known as water hyacinth.

This was revealed by Alaowei Cleric, National President, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusaders (FOHURAC), in a statement. 

According to him, “the revolving weeds have completely barricaded River Kototo near Warri. This is the only access river that linked River Forcados to Warri through where people moved their goods and services to Warri.

“As we speak now, Isaba, Gbekebor, Obotebe, Ayakoromo, Oyangbene, Eseimogbene, Akparemogbene, Egolegbene among other communities along the Forcados River and its estuaries in Burutu, Bomadi and Warri South West Local Government Areas cannot travel to and from Warri because of the blockade.

“Even fast boats such as hovercrafts and others have to spend two to three hours at the barricaded spot in the river before escaping the scourge of these dangerous weeds. Some locally made wooden transport boats have already spent three to four days in the river with no hope of escaping from the hyacinths which locked the free flow of movement in the surface water.”

He appealed to relevant governments’ intervention agencies on the “need to take an urgent action to arrest the situation.

“We specifically call on the NDDC, DESOPADEC, MENA and SEMA to immediately swing into action in order to save the situation. We have no doubt that the affected communities may face with the danger of humanitarian crisis as they cannot come to Warri to exchange goods and services.”

He also called on “the Delta State Government and representatives in the various governments’ departments from the affected communities as well as theBurutu and Warri South West Local Government councils to take a joint investigative visit to the river to see things for themselves in order to proffer an immediate solution.”

By Abai Francis

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