Metro
Beating Traffic: Mgbudohia To Eagle Island By Boat
Normally, going through Mgbudohia community in Rumuolumeni to Mile 2, Diobu, takes about 10minutes drive without any traffic jam, but unfortunately that is not possible these past years.
It is against this backdrop that many residents of the area now prefer crossing by boat that takes about five minutes to Eagle Island, a high brow residential area bordering Mile 2, Diobu. From there, any commuter can get to Old Port Harcourt Township, Mile 1, Diobu, down to Mile 3 through bus or taxi in five minutes.
For the past 20 years, the route has become so popular that even those living at Iwofe prefer taking a boat across to Diobu than transverse the huge traffic snarl from Rumueprikom (Wimpey) to Agip Roundabout.
A resident of Mgbudohia, Williams Amadi told The Tide Metro that for the past 10 years, he prefers the short cut, “I can not imagine myself sitting for over 45 minutes in a bus to Mile 3, if I can do it in 10minutes from Eagle Island by boat,” he said.
“What makes the route attractive is that it is cheap as well”, Amadi maintained. “This place is a gateway to Port Harcourt”.
The normal boat fare is N50, but higher if one carries load or takes a charter as many market women do often.
Mrs Wilcox Menubari, who buys and sells wares told The Tide Metro that she uses the route up to three times a day, especially if she has pressing needs of buying stuffs for her shop.
“If you look at the time you will spend in getting to Mile 3, the best is to take the boat and get to where you are going in 10minutes,” she said.
The same goes for Ismail Ahmed, who sells groceries at Nkpor. His shop is by the road side and he prefers the route because it is easy to access Mile 1 Market.
According to Doctor Jackrich, over 5,000 commuters ferry across the Mgbudoha River to Eagle Island daily.
That figure maybe higher if one counts the number of trips each boat makes in a day. The Tide Metro learnt that there are five waterfronts in the area where the boats ply. They include Alhaji Seaside, Main Market, Mainmarket by Obi and Lepass waterfronts.
Each of the waterfronts from investigations has not less than five boats that ferry passengers in 12-seater outboard engine boats. Each boat makes not less than 10 trips in a day.
Jackrich said, “If government constructs a bridge here, it will make life easier for us. A lot of traffic will be taken off the Iwofe Road to Mile 3”.
He recalled the sad incident that occurred in 2014, when over 20 persons drowned while crossing the river in the night hours.
Solomon Donubari, who was a teenager at the time of the boat mishap said the casualty figure was much higher, “I think it was about 40 persons”, he said.
Donubari is now one of the boat drivers at Main Market Beach. He blames overload, poor safety rules and over speeding for the accidents that do occur along the water route.
His views were supported by one of the boat owners at Main Market Beach, who gave his name as Francis Obadiah.
Obadiah said, “Here we keep a lot of safety rules, but the passengers do not abide by them.” For instance, he revealed that many commuters do not wear life jacket provided by the boat owners. “They complain that the life jacket will stain their clothes.”
That alone is not only a major safety threat from what The Tide Metro gathered. Many of the boats do not have lighting for navigation in the night.
Though Mr Obadiah disagreed that they ply in the night, “we commence operations from 6.30am when day has broken” he submitted, “and we stop operating by 7pm”.
However, investigations by The Tide Metro reveal that passengers still cross the river as late as 9 o’clock in the night.
Obadiah said boat drivers who contravene the night driving law are at risk, while stating that for sometime now, criminals often waylay some passengers and rob them of their belongings, hence, the law against night crossing.
For Confidence King, night robbing has become frequent at the waterfronts, especially at the Eagle Island axis, even with police presence and check points along the road.
King also identified overloading as another challenge along the water route. “Many boat drivers defy safety codes in order to make money,” he stated.
“So far, there has not been an incident of sea piracy, said Obadiah, for the past two years since I came here, no boat has been stolen.”
Consequently, some residents of the community have decried the poor condition of road in Mgbudoha.
The snaky road that links the community to Nkpor via Rumuolumeni is highly dilapidated. As one gets to St Phillips Anglican Church from Iwofe, the route becomes bumpy and rough with many pot holes and craters dotting the whole length linking to Saipem Oil Company.
An indigene, Owhonda Omunakwe told The Tide Metro that this road has been in bad shape for three years now, “Because of the situation, it is difficult to go to Saipem,” he said.
Due to the bad road, Keke (tricycle) charges about N150 to St John’s, which ordinarily is N100.
Omunakwe pleaded that government should come to their aid following the new road that was commissioned along Nkpor to Naval Base.
Felix Abraham lamented that apart from the bad road in the community, they also have poor power supply.
On security in the area, Omunakwe and Abraham agreed that it has improved. Sometime in 2019, many residents left in droves due to the frequent cult clashes.
For the quick intervention of the community and the police the situation has calmed down and people are returning to the area doing business, as cost of rent increases by the day.
A room which used to be about N3,000 to N4,000 is now N5,000, Abraham told The Tide Metro, “people love here now because it is calm and easy to access other parts of the town by water transport.”
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
