Iwofe Route: Where Passengers, Boat Drivers Defy Pirates

Few metres from the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolemeni, lies a prominent jetty, with huge passenger traffic ferrying between Port Harcourt and neighbouring riverine communities.
Iwofe Jetty as it is popularly called is an ancient waterfront market called “Minikpiti” by the locals in Rumuolemeni community.
It used to be a key market place where many riverine communities from Tombia, Bakana, Abalama, Okrika, Kugbo in Odual, Otuegene in Ogbia, Ogbakiri, Ogbogoro and Choba sell their farm produce in the olden days.
Today, that jetty has still not lost its verve, as it hosts all kinds of businesses, especially during the weekly market days when neighbouring communities bring their produce for sale every five days.
Such products include timber from Kugbo in Odual, periwinkle and fish from Abalama, Tombia and Bakana, while farm produce like garri, cassava and yam are seen displayed at the mouth of the jetty.
Aside these businesses, Iwofe jetty is a major route for those living close to Port Harcourt. Not fewer than 5,000 persons ply it daily.

For instance, a boat ride from Tombia is just 10minutes from the city, while Ogbakiri is just five minutes. The same goes for Ogbogoro town which on land will take one up to 15minutes cab drive depending on traffic hiccups from St John’s and or from Rumueprikom axis.
As the city traffic worsens over the years, the sea route has become more convenient for many commuters to get to their destination faster.
However, despite its proximity to Port Harcourt city, The Tide Metro learnt that the major challenge to sea farers and passengers using this route are sea pyrates, who molest and cart away belongings of passengers.
Though Godsown Jembi-Isi claims that sea piracy has gone down, others interviewed say it occurs once in a while.
The fire outbreak at Nembe-Bille waterside two weeks ago may have contributed to rising passenger traffic at Iwofe Jetty.
Many boat users now find Iwofe Jetty much safer and shorter to go through.
Last Wednesday’s visit by The Tide Metro to the jetty shows that passenger traffic has grown higher than before, and also many people say it is closer to the town, than going through the Old Port Harcourt township, especially those doing business uptown.

Ipalibo Ngiangia told The Tide Metro that he prefers the route than going through the land.”I live in Tombia and I come to Port Harcourt daily to do business, “as he reasoned that Tombia is closer to Port Harcourt than Bakana”, Just within eight minutes or less, you are in Port Harcourt from Tombia”.
Investigations by The Tide Metro indicate that many passengers consider it cheaper and faster to use boats from Iwofe Jetty to Tombia, Ogbogoro and Ogbakiri communities.
Passengers pay N400 to Tombia and N200 to Ogbakiri. Ngiangia said it used to be cheaper than that until the recent fuel scarcity, as he recalled paying N250 early this year from Port Harcourt to Tombia.
Ngiangia wants government to construct bridges across to connect these communities, “Sometimes when we get here in the night, we take risks to cross, but we do not have any option.”
Beach Master, Godsown Jembi-Isi told The Tide Metro that they have placed a ban on night journeys, “We ask boats to stop plying the routes as from 6.30pm. The only grace we give drivers is for those residing in Tombia or Ogbakiri once it is late.
“With the rainy season setting in, Mr Jembi-Isi said they need a waiting hall, as he noted that the current one built by the Minikpiti community cannot take many passengers. “The rains are coming and passengers need to have shade while waiting for boats”.
Vote Okeh, a boat driver of over 25 years experience, who plies Iwofe to Tombia and Ogbogoro routes frowned at the poor security on the sea route, “From here up to Bonny River, there is no presence of any security boat and that is why we are at the mercy of the pirates.”
He disclosed that even though most of the boat drivers are trained and licensed by NIMASA, yet, they cannot prevent the menace of pirates.
Asked on the safety measures put in place to reduce accidents on the sea way, he said, “You can prevent the level of accidents, but you cannot totally avoid it.”
Apart from that, he decried the level of wastes and debris on the sea route, “Our engines are usually affected, “he stated, “Even the Federal Inland Waterways Agency and NIMASA are yet to clear the sea from wastes. And that causes a lot of accidents”.
On what drivers should do to prevent accidents and attacks on the sea route, he said, “Let them take away fear while boarding; and passengers must wear life vests in case of any accident.”
For Ajetekaa George, a deck hand who controls and directs the boats, “it takes a lot of courage to ply the route.”
On safety measures put in place for passengers, he said, “Life vests are now compulsory for all passengers. If you do not want to wear it, we ask you to go down from the boat.”
He also said they avoid night journeys to prevent being robbed on the sea.

By: Kevin Nengia