As excitement mounts in expectation of the take-off of Asimini Line, the Bonny Kingdom ferry line, it appears the ancient and natural kingdom is about to achieve a watershed in its quest for a safe, affordable and sustainable water transport system.
This is against the backdrop of the chequered history travelers to the ancient island have had with the steadily dwindling quality of the speedboats powered by outboard engines that many a time fail in the middle of the trip. This is aside the menace of daredevil pirates that always terrorize travelers until the security agencies went bullish against them and secured the sea route between Bonny Island and Port Harcourt.
Beautiful aspect of this development is that travelers to and from Bonny Island this Yuletide season maybe on to the best fun of their lives as the long awaited Asimini Line, the Bonny Kingdom ferry service is expected to come on stream this December.
Kristina Reports reliably learnt from close sources that the ferry line will take about 100 passengers per trip and do about two sails daily between Port Harcourt and Bonny Island.
Further checks revealed that there will be special offerings such as a mini restaurant, exquisite bar, and luxury sit-out atop the ferry, aside the air-conditioned exquisitely furnished interiors, among other varieties on board.
The boat would also have armed escorts on all trips from its take-off point, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) jetty at Marine Base, Port Harcourt, to its landing point at the Julius Berger built Jetty along King Asimini Bypass (Berger Road), Bonny, added to a bus service at the Bonny end.
It is trite to note that the arrival jetty in Bonny is inside the proposed Bonny Kingdom Free Trade Zone (BKFTZ), which is ensconced between two strategic landmarks, the Bonny Consulate and the Bonny Fire Station, thus rendering it as a prime location for visitors.
A source at the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), who spoke to Kristina Reports in confidence, informed that prospective travelers can make bookings for their trips on the ferry line’s website, www.asiminiline.com.ng.
After booking the trip, the passengers will be issued a pass via the website with which they would be issued a boarding pass at the dispatch centre to board the boat. On pricing, the official declined comments.
Kristina Reports further learnt that Asimini Line, which is a brainchild of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, is a partnership deliverable by Sealink Promotional Company Ltd (SPCL) and Asimini Line Travels and Tours and facilitated by BOCCIMA.
A knowledgeable source within the system, who preferred anonymity, informed Kristina Reports that the imminent take-off of Asimini Line was a watershed in the annals of water transportation in Bonny Island, pointing out that it would ease the travails of travelers, especially, this festive season.
Also there are indications, though unconfirmed that Asimini Line maybe part of a bigger Tourism plan for the Kingdom, which is blessed with several artefacts from diverse tourist locations across its myriad communities.
Prior to this time, several attempts have been made to provide alternatives to the existing marine transport system but had met with stiff resistance from the operators, which knowledgeable sources opine may have been the reason behind naming the new ferry line, Asimini Line, after one of the ancestors of the ancient Kingdom and direct progenitor of the incumbent Monarch.
Our sources are of the opinion that naming the ferry line after one of the ancestors of Bonny Kingdom was a clear statement to the effect that the kingdom takes ownership of the service and signposts the invite to all sons and daughters of Bonny Kingdom at home and in the Diaspora to own it by supporting it to succeed.
An indigenous mariner, who preferred anonymity, also told Kristina Reports that this was not aimed at abandoning the current boat operators to their fate but as a stop gap measure while efforts were ongoing to holistically revamp the marine transport system, stressing that doing as speculated would mean shutting down a once thriving aspect of the local economy.
He further revealed that tasking BOCCIMA with facilitating the Asimini Line project, which includes working out relevant parameters and stakeholder engagement processes was with a view to assuring its sustainability, stressing that the idea is to run it as a business and not as a community service, which could impair its sustainability in the short or long run.
May honour and glory be ascribed to the MOST HIGH GOD for making it possible for the Ancient Bonny Kingdom to have a ferry christened ASIMINI LINE. It is long overdue.
This has indeed been the dream and aspiration of the IBANI man and woman, thank God it has come to fruition and it here with us LIVE AND DIRECT. This is a true life story.
The indigenes and strangers will have some respite and dignity crisscrossing the waterway from Bonny to Port Harcourt and viz-a-viz without any encounter with the sons of bitches called sea pirates. Bonny will at this point in time turn our back at the incidences of sea piracy with its horrible and ugly consequences.
Indeed, the imminent take-off of ASIMINI LINE was a watershed in the annals of water transportation in Bonny Island and would ease the travails of travelers, more so, at this festive Season. Glory to God who has made this possible.
I salute the Amanyanabo and traditional ruler of Ancient Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr. Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI for his noble idea of ASIMINI Line to make sea voyage comfortable for his subjects and strangers alike and curbing the piracy problems on our waterways. May God, the God of our forebears continue to keep and protect you for more greater works to the ancient Bonny Kingdom.
I also appreciate Sealink Promotional Company Limited. I equally say kudos to the President of Bonny Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, AMA-OPUSENIBO Amairigha Hart and his co-drivers for a job well done. May God continue to bless all of you for this Noble cause to the KINGDOM.