Metro
Bonny/Bille/Nembe Waterside Bouncing Back After Fire
Two weeks after the early morning fire that gutted and destroyed Bonny/Bille/Nembe waterfront, business and life are gradually returning to the area.
From the entrance of the new jetty and loading bay constructed by the Rivers State Government, passengers and boat operators are back in full swing, as cargoes and wares are wheeled in and out of the waterfront.
The site of burnt boats, engines and smell of smouldered plastics and other goods burnt in the inferno have gradually given way to new speedboats and other cargo lunches used by the Nembe fish and timber traders.
A lady who sells sachet water in bags at the front of the loading bay at Nembe waterfront told The Tide Metro that she lost over 100bags of her goods to the fire.
According to her, when the fire broke out in the middle of the night that fateful day, her sachet water bags were used to put out the fire. “I came in the morning and could not find any of my goods here. They told me it was used to quench the fire.”
In her estimation, she lost about N50,000 to the incident. She said, “As you can see, I’m trying to recover and it has not been easy after the fire.”
The sachet water seller declined to give her name, stressing that “We have been calling for assistance since after the incident, but nobody has come to assist us”.
The Tide Metro learnt that not fewer than 20 persons, including children died during the inferno. Most of them were asleep in the Nembe big boats, and there were no rescue men to save them.
Beach Master at Bonny Waterfront, Allison Owusigbo said two of his 200horsepower outboard boats got burnt in the inferno.
He said in order to reduce difficulty faced by passengers due to lack of boats, they had to call in boats from neighbouring communities, “most of the boats you are seeing here were brought either from Bonny or any other place. We lost over 100 boats here during the fire.”
For now, Owusigbo said he and many other boat owners are starting afresh, “even if you go for a fairly used engine boat, a medium sized outboard motor engine boat is not less than N3.5million. Each of the boat you see here is not less than N1million, and one 200horse powered engine is about 10million.”
“ If you look around, you will see many drivers are out of job because their boats were burnt. And that is why we want government to come and help us. “
The Bonny Beach Master further disclosed that they incurred huge loss because at the time the fire broke out, many of them had retired home to rest, hence, they could not rescue or save both human beings and materials at the beach.
Appealing to the authorities to build a fire substation at the jetty, Owusigbo reasoned that other measures need to be put in place to avert such incident in the future.
He advised those who lost their boats and goods to take heart, “They don’t need to relent. As far as there is life, there is hope.”
The same view was expressed by Prince Ebijuoworih, Booking Clerk with the Maritime Workers Union at Nembe jetty, “If we had a fire station here, the fire would not have spread to this level.”
“Any boat you see here today may have been outside here, or were brought from Bonny,” he intoned.
Ebijuoworih described the waterfront as, the eye of Rivers State, “This is where many riverine communities come to buy and sell.”
The booking clerk sought for more government presence at the jetty to ensure safety and security at the waterfront.
Favour Michael, who sells electronic products and other goods at the jetty’s entrance, told The Tide Metro, “We are just trying to recover. All my goods were burnt in the fire.”
He continued, over 2,000 persons make daily living from this jetty and since the incident, we have not had any intervention, not even from NEMA.”
Michael said many of them are trying to scratch out something from the few goods that were saved. “The economy of the country is bad, and so it’s only God that we are looking up to.”
What bothers Michael Jaja, another business owner at the jetty is the level of human loss in the inferno. “We can’t quantify the number of people, including children who died in the fire. It will take time for their families to recover.”
He stated that this is not the first time fire broke out at the waterfront, “this is the second this year, but this last one was very huge.”
Asked how the fire started, Jaja narrated that the fire started from one of the big Nembe Market boats when one of the deck hands went to refill the tank of a water pumping machine. While the machine was still steaming, he poured petrol into the tank and fire sparked from the plug and spread.
Another version by Ebijuoworih indicates that the fire broke out when two gas cylinders collided. The gas was being off loaded from one of the Nembe big boats when they collided and burst into flames.
Mr. Michael told The Tide Metro that it was wrong for some people to think that the fire was caused by “kpofire”. This accident can happen anywhere and it is as a result of man-made error”.
Even with the huge loss, the recovery seems to be slow and steady around the waterfront. Business activities still go on with the usual bustle and hustle of Bonny/Bille/Nembe jetty in Old Port Harcourt Township.
By: Kevin Nengia
Traditional rulers in Rivers State say they are mobilising their subjects to ensure Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s administration succeeds.
The Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers(RSCTR), Eze Oha Apara IV of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu – Wodo gave the assurance at the 117th and 118th quarterly general meeting of the council held in Port Harcourt.
He commended the state governor for maintaining peace in the State despite the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians.
He stated that Governor Fubara should not retaliate by toeing the violent path, adding that Rivers people know those who are over-heating the polity.
The chairman further appealed to people of the State on all sides of the political divide to remember that they have nowhere else to call home apart from Rivers State, saying that they must not allow their personal interests to destabilise and stifle growth of the State.
“As traditional rulers, we owe our State the duty of making it peaceful by cautioning our children against violent act. We, therefore, cannot caution anybody if we allow ourselves become overly partisan.
“ We will then lose the moral authority to reprimand those causing trouble when we take sides.So I say let us all work assiduously to maintain peace in Rivers State,” he said.
He used the medium to advise the supporters of the governor to avoid persons or events that will cause violence, as detractors want to make the State ungovernable so as to call for the declaration of state of emergency.
“ Let me use this opportunity to thank Your Excellency for maintaining peace in the State in the face of the unwarranted political crisis orchestrated by selfish and overzealous politicians.
“ You must not, Your Excellency, fall into their traps by going the violent way. All of us know that those who are over-heating the polity have one aim of making this state ungovernable so as to make it fit for a declaration of state of emergency”, Eze Worlu- Wodo said.
He thanked the state governor for appointing him as the chairman of traditional rulers, council adding that he will contribute his own little quota to the development of the traditional rulers council and by extension, our dear State, Rivers State.
“ Council records have shown that this is the second time since you became Governor of the State on May 29, 2023 that you have approved and released funds for two sets of combined quarterly meetings of the council.
“ This means that your administration is not indebted to us in terms of payment of our meeting sitting allowances.
“ It takes only someone who is both law-abiding and generous to be able to do this.
“On behalf of the traditional rulers, I thank you our Governor”, he said.
Stories by Kevin Nengia
As the Rivers State Ministry of Transport announces an ultimatum to commercial drivers to paint their vehicles with the approved state colour latest on August 1, some commercial drivers have pleaded for more time.
The directive was announced on Monday by the State Commissioner for Transport, Prince Collins Onunwo as it insisted that after the deadline, defaulters will not be allowed to operate.
He said in a statement signed by him that the new order is for uniformity and to ensure subsidised rates. “The Rivers State Ministry of Transport and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have reached an agreement with some designated automobile painting workshops, interested persons can contact the following persons.”, he said.
Meanwhile, responding to the directive, some commercial drivers who spoke to The Tide Metro sought for more time so that they can source money to paint their vehicles.
Kennedy Amahu, who plies between Choba and Mile One said , “ the time is too short. August 1 is just less than two weeks from now and I don’t think many of us can meet the deadline.”
Besides, he explained that many commercial vehicle owners do not paint their vehicles as this allows them to take charter and drops into restricted facilities.
He argued that if their vehicles are painted with state colour, many of them will lose customers and will be restricted to enter some places.
On his part, Hope Nwankwo decried the time given by the government, “ I can’t meet up, but if they extend it to October”, many of us can try.
So far, according to Nwankwo, who ferries passengers from Iwofe to Mile One, Diobu, many of his fellow drivers are not aware of the new policy.
He begged that government should do more extensive publicity on the new directive.
Another commercial driver, Anele Nwobi said what should be done is to register the vehicles to monitor car theft than painting vehicles.
“As far as I’m concerned, “ Nwobi said, “ this new government directive will empower Agberos and the police to harass commercial drivers.”
He recalled that previous administrations had given such directive but that after a while, it failed because of poor implementation.
Nwobi argued that with the poor economy, it would be difficult for many drivers to meet the deadline since most of them are on hire purchase. “The price of fuel is too high now for most of us to cover our daily returns, he said.”
Jaja Stephens, a keke bus driver told The Tide Metro that painting vehicles is quite expensive and hence, many of them will be put out of the road.
Apart from pleading for time extension, Stephens further stated that there is need for the drivers unions to sensitise their members, stressing that many of them are not aware of the new government directive.
It was supposed to be a book launch but fate turned it into a day of reminiscence for natives of Rebisi in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.
For over 113 years when their great grandfathers ceded some parts of their land to colonial masters and named it after Sir Harcourt then Secretary of Colonies in 1913, natives of Port Harcourt became part of the new metropolis now called Port Harcourt.
According to Eze Apara Rebisi, HRM Isaiah Elekwu, about 25 square miles of their land were ceded to develop the new city which included a new port and railway at the time.
Fortunately, the book launch turned to a historical forum as speaker after speaker spoke of the past and the rich heritage bequeathed by their fathers.
It was this backdrop that made the paramount ruler of Port Harcourt, HRM Elekwu to charge historians to begin earnest documentation of Rebisi people as a way to preserve their heritage.
The royal father gave the charge during the launch and public presentation of the book, ‘Rebisi Natives of Port Harcourt: History and Developments’ written by Arthur Kalagbor held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The monarch said intellectuals in the Kingdom should engage more in written than oral history, as he commended Kalagbor for leading the light in documenting his people.
He described the book as the beginning of a new era in Rebisi Kingdom and quest to ensure that there is cohesive and united front among the people.
Calling on elites in Rebisi to rise to the challenge of leadership, Eze Elekwu said time has come to save the future of the Kingdom.
Part of the charge by the Rebisi monarch was to make sure that the struggles of their great grand fathers were captured.
For instance, he recalled that while the 1913 agreement made both by Okrika and some Rebisi chiefs were rejected, the colonial authorities were forced into accepting it.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Sunny Amadi said he was elated that a new awakening has started in Rebisi Kingdom with the book.
The university teacher however, advocated for a new economy for Rebisi as he called for use of estate development to drive future growth of the people.
“In his words, Today most parts of Rebisi have been overtaken by development and that is why I urge our people to see opportunities from the estate , and built environment to preserve the future of children.”
Reviewing the book, Dr Chris Akani described the work as historical legacy, that seeks to throw light on the ontology of the people.
He stated that the seven-chapter book with 106 pages is fluid and easy to read, with special focus on the origins of Rebisi people.
Akani added that, “it’s an exciting book that has come at the right time and I think the author should be given a resounding ovation”.
The book reviewer noted that the book is a response to the desire of indigenes to know their roots.
Following the expansion and migration by Rebisi children which included, Okuta. Abali; Ola Ekenigbo and others.
Said he, “Rebisi had four wives, and he was a young man aching for success. And so the children did not relent to expand like Orubom and Abali who were adventurous.”
The expansion according to the university don was as a result of wars and skirmishes and this took place between 1700- 1734. And this led to the conquer of Elekahia.
While launching the book, former House of Representatives member representing Port Harcourt Constituency, Hon. Ken Chikere described history as key to the future.
He said, “if we know our history, then, we will be fully guided.”
Hon. Chikere, a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General added,” “What is important is to know where you come from. We need to learn our history, so that no one writes our story for us.”
In his remarks, the book author, Arthur Kalagbor disclosed that the book is an outcome of a study group set up by Rebisi Monarch in 2014.
In the view of Kalagbor, the book is not a folklore, but rather a collation of oral history compiled and confirmed by various sources.
He said,” Even with the lack of reading culture, we still need to write with information that are verifiable and evidence-based.”
With the completion of the assignment to collate history of the Kingdom, he noted that he was compelled to expand the frontiers to cover other areas of culture and origins to educate the young generation.
Kalagbor reiterated that the book is dedicated to the future generations who have little knowledge of their history, and thanked royal fathers, and local sources for support, including former President of Ogbakor Ikwerre Organisation Worldwide, Prof. Otonti Nduka for writing the forward of the book.
Kevin Nengia