Ondo Communities Lament Impact Of Water Hyacinth On Fishing, Farming Activities 

Residents of some coastal communities in Ondo State have described the building up of water hyacinth as a major challenge confronting the people of the area, particularly during the rainy season communities currently facing these challenges include: Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, and Irele local government areas of Ondo State.
The Residents confirmed the difficulty in the creeks as the entire water ways are covered with  hyacinths.
A resident of the area, Omo’ba Adeola Akingbohun, told The Tide source that the floating hyacinth annually blocks and locks up the water channels, not allowing residents to move freely from one community to the other adding that seafarers in  the communities find it difficult to move around.
“There are a lot of challenges brought on by the hyacinth, ranging from difficulties in transiting on waterways and recurrent ecological disasters that often lead to ocean surges in some of the riverine communities, rendering many homeless and displaced annually.
“We have been speaking out about the issue of Ayetoro community. If you visit Ayetoro now, the community is gradually going into extinction. The ocean surge in the community is very pronounced to the extent that some residents of the area have started moving out of the community to other communities and have no place to stay.”
A speedboat operator, ferrying people between Ugbonla and Ayetoro, Mr. Ayenuro Damilola, told the Tide source that the menace of hyacinth is affecting the transportation system in the area.
Narrating his ordeal, Ayenuro said, “I ran into a heap of hyacinth not knowing there was a dangerous wood underneath
“. My propeller hit the wood and got spoilt. I spent a lot of money to repair the propeller, eating deep into my profit.
“Because of the blockage of the waterways by water hyacinth, traveling  has become a nightmare.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the commissioner for Environment,  Ondo State Mr. by inaugurating a Vanguard to address issues around difficulties commuting on waterways, engaging about 300 workers drafted from Ese-Odo and Ilaje council areas by Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

It was learned that these efforts yielded no results as those employed then, were not enough to carry out the business of clearing the waterways.