BONNY TRAVELERS SOON TO GO BY AIRCONDITIONED BOATS, MONORAIL …as Tolofari lists achievements in Transport sector

Travelers to Bonny Island and other riverine communities in Rivers State would soon enjoy the luxury of traveling in state-of-the-art boats, fully air-conditioned or by monorail system, the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said.

The Governor, who said this at the 2^nd State Transport Summit in Port Harcourt, with the theme “Transport Sector Reform” organized by the State Ministry of Transport, said government is desirous of laying a proper foundation for an integrated transportation scheme in the state.

He stated that apart from improving land transportation with the introduction of monorail system, water transportation would equally be given a boost as new water taxi boats equipped with air conditioners have been acquired for the purpose.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. George Tolofari, has said that the transport system in the State has seen a transformation due to the strident efforts of his ministry aimed at alleviating the suffering of the masses as a result of the ban on commercial motorcycles.

He disclosed that his ministry adopted the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and entered into joint venture with Skye Bank Plc in the building of new and modern bus shelters with lay-byes.

Noting that 56 bus shelters with lay-byes have been completed, and over 106 buses are plying on Port Harcourt roads, the former member, representing Bonny Local Government Area in the State House of Assembly, added that the State Government and Skye Bank have also introduced 200 taxis into the sector to ease transportation in the city.

According to the Commissioner, the 2^nd Rivers State Transport Summit is aimed at creating a platform for the Ministry to evaluate the reform in the transport sector and chart the way forward.

In a paper delivered at the summit, titled “The Emerging Role of Women in Commercial Transportation Prospect and Challenges”, the wife of the State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi, said the ESI lady cabbies scheme is aimed at creating participation of female taxi drivers and generating regular income for the women.

She said the initiative of the lady cabbies scheme by her NGO, has broken the barriers of male dominated profession of commercial transportation in the state.