The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has threatened to shut down the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty in Port Harcourt, if there were reported cases of criminality or physical violence in the area.
The governor said the zeal to provide an enabling environment for sea travellers and boost marine economy of the state, spurred his administration to remodel the once dilapidated jetty, first built in the 1950s.
He stated this at the commissioning of the remodelled Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty by the Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, last Saturday.
Wike said he decided to remodel the once filthy and disused jetty because he firmly believes that the people of the state deserve the best infrastructure required to boost economic activities and enhance the well-being of the people.
The governor noted that while government would not relent in providing infrastructure needed to create an enabling environment for business to thrive, it would not tolerate criminal activities around the remodelled jetty.
“Those of you, too, who will use this place, don’t turn it to a place of criminality. If you do that, I will shut it down. I have no room for criminality, and I want to tell anybody who cares.”
Wike stated that he would not hesitate to shut down the jetty, if any passenger travelling to and fro Bonny, Nembe or Bille is reportedly kidnapped around the jetty.
“Don’t come here and kill people. Don’t come here and kidnap people. Don’t come here to act as thugs and criminals.”
The governor ordered the contractor to erect concrete wall around the jetty in order to make it inaccessible for non-travellers.
He also directed the commissioner for transport to ensure the departure and arrival halls at the jetty were furnished within the next two weeks.
Wike reiterated that the hope for a better and prosperous Nigeria depends on the return of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to power in 2023, and urged the people to continue to support the party.
He further declared that the sterling accomplishments of his administration have silenced the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, commended the governor for judiciously applying the resources of state to address pressing needs of the people.
“It is not just about earning revenues, be it revenues from FAAC or from IGR. It is about having the grace of God in applying those revenues to the needs of the people. That is what I see here happening in Rivers State.”
He described the jetty as a very critical project that would go a long way to further make transportation easy, and indeed, easier for the people of the riverine communities of the state.
On his part, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, advised the Federal Government to emulate Wike in the provision of basic amenities for Nigerians.
He described as preposterous the decision of the Federal Government to borrow money from bank accounts that have been dormant in the past three years.
In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Osima Ginah, lauded Wike for the completion of the project, which would further boost economic activities in the riverine communities of the state.
He said the arrival and departure halls at the jetty can comfortably sit 100 passengers, in addition to a security post and restaurant.