Maritime
Passengers Decry Fare Hike To Bonny, Bille, Others
Passengers travelling to riverine communities in Rivers State have decried the increase in transport fare occasioned by the recent removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The hike, which some passengers described as inhuman has been condemned, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to revert back to the oil subsidy.
The passengers who decried the sudden increase in the transport fare to their communities in the riverine areas of the state however said they are to blame the Government for its action that had caused the hike.
Our Correspondent, who was at some of the Jetties in Port Harcourt observed that some passengers were not happy over the development but had to travel at all cost.
Mrs Blessing Amaechi, a nurse with St. Charles Clinic Bonny said she travelled out of Bonny to her home town in Abia for a burial on the 10th December 2011, only to come back now with her two children and be stranded at the Jetty as she had only N1,700 that is for her transport alone.
Mrs Amaechi said she paid N800 the trio were leaving when but now they (Boat drivers) said the children should pay N1,700, and that all efforts to plead with the drivers proved abortive and she could not leave her children at the jetty and travel to Bonny alone as she is to resume duty.
“I need help and I pray God will reward that person that would help us to reach Bonny,” she said, and lamented that the increase is unfair”.
Also, a youth corper serving at a Secondary School at Abalamabie, Emeka Uwa said he just went home for the two weeks holiday and came back from Lagos to observe that the transport fare had increased to N1,700 and he had less than that amount with him, hoping to survive when he gets to the school through the allowances paid which is not even enough but to give their best as national service, describing the situation as quite unfortunate.
He appealed to the Federal Government to see to the plight of the teeming masses and especially corpers, who should be given preferential treatment.
In his statement, the Vice Chairman of Bonny Marine Drivers Association, Mr. Ayiba-Preye Misongo has this to say, “Actually the increase in fare is not our making as we were formerly collecting N1,200 but only added N500.00.
when there was fuel scarcity following the Federal Government’s removal of the oil subsidy.
According to him, “Although the passengers are gambling as the money on them could not take them to their destinations, and some refused to pay on the first day the increase was made but now they are trying to adjust themselves, but some are seeking for help from people to travel because they had less than the transportation charged”.
Mr. Markson Kuromi, traveling from Port Harcourt to Nembe in Bayelsa State by boat said the suffering of the people is pitiable as they now pay N3,050 instead of the normal fare of N2,000, but since there is no alterative, we have to pay and travel for our businesses.
Mr. Kuromi, however supported the removal of the oil subsidy, saying “let us suffer and enjoy later like Ghana. Things will be better if people exercise patience with the plans of the government”.
A private boat owner, ThankGod Job simply said he used 40 litres of fuel to and from Bille at the cost of N6,000 but it is now sold at N10,000, and that he is not aware of how much passengers pay to Bille now.
At Marine Base, Port Harcourt, The Tide gathered that there had been consultations between the Council Chairman, Hon. Tamuno Williams and the executive of Speed Boat Owners on the increase, which they finally agreed to add only N50.00 to the N200 they have been collecting with effect from yesterday while at Abonnema Wharf, Mrs Daba Dokubo, who was traveling to Bakana complained that with the increase in transport fare from N3,000 to N3,600, it is going to affect cost of goods and every aspect of life, and also appealed to the Federal Government to rescind its action as the people at the grassroot would be badly affected. “Let the President consider the poor people because not all can afford this amount,” he further appealed.
Collins Barasimeye
The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has called for increased collaboration between the federal agency and state governments to enhance the safety and security of inland waterways transportation.
Speaking at a one-day consultative forum on safety and insecurities on inland waterways, organized by the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners’ Forum in Ilorin, Oyebamiji emphasized the critical role that safety and security play in fostering a thriving water transportation system.
The forum, themed “Prevalent Safety, Security Hazards and Practices in Inland Waterways: Passenger Transport Safety in Ilorin, Kwara State”, sought to address the pressing issues facing the inland waterways sector.
Oyebamiji acknowledged the ongoing efforts by NIWA to improve safety, such as the recent unveiling of the transportation code for public use, the inauguration of several operational assets including survey boats, gunboats, water ambulances, and a passenger ferry.
He also noted that safety campaigns have been launched across all operational bases, targeting local communities in their native languages.
The NIWA boss stated the support from the National Assembly, including the ongoing discussions on establishing coastal guards and the attention safety and security on inland waterways have received from the House Committee on Inland Waterways.
In his closing remarks, Oyebamiji appealed to the Commissioners for Transportation across relevant states to collaborate with NIWA in areas such as training, safety campaigns, infrastructure development, and financial empowerment.
He stressed that while the challenges are significant, they are surmountable through collective action.
The Federal Government has conveyed its support for the establishment of the National Coast Guard.
The Government also commended the proponents of the bill for having the hindsight to initiate a course of action that, when passed, will be the catalyst needed in unlocking the nation’s maritime potential.
In a statement by the Head of Press, and Public Relations for the ministry, Muhammad Tahir Zakari, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, was reported to have made this known at the National Assembly complex at the 1-Day Public Hearing on National Coast Guard Bill (NCG).
The statement stated that the bill when passed, will guarantee maritime safety, sustainable marine resource development and enhance economic growth.
Highlighting the major need for the National Coast Guard, the Minister identified: Maritime safety; Environmental protection through enforcing environmental regulations and conservation of marine ecosystems; and Enforcement of civil maritime laws to uphold laws governing civil maritime activities and enforce fishing regulations while preventing illegal exploitation.
It also include search and rescue to maritime emergencies and also conduct timely search and rescue operations.
He cited a 2009 publication by the African Centre for Strategic Studies, which noted that 15 of the 21 independent maritime nations in sub-Saharan Africa have dedicated coast guards and identify themselves as such.
Despite this, none of these nations have Nigeria’s population or the extent of its inland waterways and coastline.
While acknowledging the significant role of the Nigerian Navy in safeguarding the Nigerian maritime space following the collaborative effort with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in the Deep Blue Project, which has shown great results with zero piracy in Nigeria’s territorial water in the last three years.
He, however, stressed the need for the National Coast Guard to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in playing a critical role in preventing accidents, crime, and other threats to maritime activities
“A vast coastline of 850 km, the equivalent of 10,000 km in two ways. It is also a place of rich and diverse economic sources.
“While these opportunities are promising, they also present challenges such as pollution, overfishing, and unsustainable use of marine resources. The proposed National Coast Guard is equipped to tackle these issues”, he stated.
He urged the Senate and the National Assembly to lend their full support to the bill, noting that, “Nigeria Coast Guard will act as a vital complement to the Navy, of fostering a safe and sustainable maritime environment”.
He appealed for the establishment of a flexible, adaptive implementation strategy that would evolve into a midwife for the bill to succeed, while urging those with reservations to see the pressing need of the institution.
Earlier during the hearing, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended members of the Committee on Marine and Transport for their unwavering dedication in piloting the initiative and advocating for the establishment of the National Coast Guard Bill.
Akpabio, represented by Sen. Akintunde Yunus, said the essence of the bill was to make critical decisions that will guarantee the safety of the nation’s waterways and protect the marine resources.
He stated that “the establishment of the National Coast Guard is not merely a legislative formality, but a dire necessity”.
Speaking also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine and Transport, Sen. Sanni Eshinlokun, said the Bill was first read in the Senate on the 3rd of October while the Senate at its plenary deliberated on the General Principles of the Bill.
Senator Eshinlokun said, “The Bill was read for the second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative action.
Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, has charged the Federal Government not to designate any of its agencies as the lead agency to drive the blue economy if it actually wants Nigeria to make progress in the sector.
Bello, who made this call in his remarks at the 10th anniversary, lecture and awards of the Primetime Reporters in Lagos, midweek, advised the Federal Government to avoid the mistake made during the Cabotage era when it designated an agency as lead agency and the rest was now history.
He said for the sector to succeed, it required everyone’s contribution, urging the Minister to allow the private sector to drive the blue economy.
According to him, “Two things which we must be very careful about is to make.mistake, like we did with cabotage. If we remember carefully, Cabotage was coastal and Inland shipping, but that inland shipping was not emphasized.
“It was just for supply of oil and gas to the mother vessel, we couldn’t trade as we were doing from Asaba to Baro in Niger State, or carry cement or even petroleum products. So, we cannot restrict that to customs.
“Secondly, don’t give the Blue Economy to an agency to say it is the lead agency because everybody must have contributions to the Blue Economy. As we want to do, we have seen agencies struggling to have seminars on Blue Economy, it’s not even a government thing.
“Allow the private sector to take over this blue economy, don’t create fantastic departments and overload into the private sector. This is what is our problem.
“When we had the Cabotage, it was a NIMASA thing and when you talk about Cabotage, no! don’t go there, what is your own with Cabotage? So, Cabotage was colonized, the Blue Economy should not be colonized. We should have the ramification of that Blue Economy to make sure that everything trickles down”.
He however, noted that there had been a lot of progress by the various organs of government even before the designation of the Blue Economy Ministry saying, “Blue Economy has always been there just as we had the red economy, which is characterized by China’s quest for export for state directed economy.
“We even have the grey economy, which is that which is informal. We have the green economy and all shades of economy. So, it’s not new that we have the Blue Economy, what has been the call by stakeholders is for us to have a ministry that will cater for transportation and transportation is a cardinal or even the paramount part of the Blue Economy.
“I know we have sustainable use of ocean resources and many other things, but when you talk about the Blue Economy, the central point is the use of ocean and the inland waterways and other resources for diversification of our economy as the Convener has said”.
“We have to be conscious, concerted and even calculated to make sure that it works for us. It’s not just fancy thing that there’s a ministry for blue economy. There must be active participation of stakeholders and the involvement of the private sector to harness the resources and not anything fancy or pretentious. The government must involve the private sector.
By: Stories by Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos