Asimini Line, Bonny Kingdom’s ferry line, has dedicated the success of its maiden sail to the commemoration of the silver jubilee anniversary of the coronation of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI.

Director General of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, who disclosed this in an online interview with Kristina Reports on Monday, December 20, 2021, said “there is no better gift to confer on the Amanyanabo at a time like this, given that this was his vision, and today it has become reality”.

Kristina Reports checks reveal that about 48 passengers were delivered in the maiden sail which had a morning and afternoon trip, which took off from NIWA jetty at Marine Base, Port Harcourt and arrived at the Coal Beach, Bonny.  

Mrs. Nwokejiobi told Kristina Reports that as an expression of gratitude to the early birds, passengers on the first sail enjoyed a rebate of about 17 percent with refunds made to them after their bookings were confirmed, noting that “those first set of passengers made the success of our first sail a reality and we needed to say ‘Thank you’ to them”.

“We shall extend same privilege to those who make their bookings for Monday through Wednesday, and that is those who pay. If you make a reservation and your payment is not made you won’t benefit from this and if you change your mind and ask for a refund, you also lose the privilege. It is strictly for our passengers, those who pay.”

The BOCCIMA DG explained that the take-off of Asimini Line is an actualization of the BOCCIMA vision of ‘Bonny beyond Oil’, as the ferry line will create employment opportunities, open up development opportunities for investors to latch on to and expand the Tourism potentials of Bonny Kingdom.  

She pointed out that it also creates a partnership opportunity for relevant public sector institutions such as the security agencies, informing that Asimini Line, a brainchild of the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, is a deliverable from a collaboration between Sealink Consortium, Nigerian Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and facilitated by BOCCIMA.

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that the ferry line, which began sailing today with a 12 seater cruise boat with fortified security as per armed escorts, will soon add a 100 seater cruise boat and later integrate about six other big and small boats to accommodate the growing number of passengers in the run-up to the commencement of the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project.