The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Engr Vincent Furo has appealed to the Rivers State Government  to provide the riverine communities with ferry boats.

Engr Furo, who made the appeal in an interview with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt said the call became necessary following the untold suffering sea commuters faced while travelling to their communities.

The PHCCIMA boss said communities like Bonny, Kula, Ke, Ngo, Opobo, Bolo, Tombia, among others are in dire need of such facility, as they are tax payers and citizens of the state.

He said that the chamber was worried  over lack of government’s attention on marine transportation in the state, as the devastating effect of speed boats, are alarming, especially with pregnant  women and sick patients that needed urgent  medical attention.

According to him, effective marine transportation would cushion the suffering of the people of these communities  and make them feel the impact of democracy dividends.

Engr Furo noted that transportation of goods, foodstuffs or building materials from Port Harcourt to some of these communities had been a herculean task, coupled with the menace of sea pirates on the routes, but the provision of such effective marine transport system by the government, would ameliorate the suffering of the people.

He further appealed to the government to construct a befitting landing jetty at the Bonny waterfront in Port Harcourt, which had become a great concern to the people using that sea route to their various communities.

The PHCCIMA president however, disclosed that the body was making plans in ensuring that multi-national companies assist in sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, fishing and provision of small scale industries and other social amenities as part of their social  responsibilities to communities.

He said the provision of such business opportunities would help reduce unemployment rate in the state and boost the economy.

Collins Barasimeye