Hon. Robinson Uwak Secures two Ferries to boost Marine Transport

By Ben Akwa

The Ahta of Oro HRM Ahta Etim Ati Okpo (JP) has once translated his name “Uwak” as meaning “plenty” . The Royal Father had said “he is the one who will bring plenty things to Oro nation”.

True to the monarch’s assertion almost over a year ago, the active lawmaker has recently secured two new boats to ferry Oron-Calabar water ways in line with the motion he moved last year in the National Assembly for revivification of  water transportation in the country.

In that motion he had prayed that many lives were lost by Nigerians as a result of using ordinary boats to ferry the  in the coastal parts of the country and called on the federal government and its relevant agencies to provide ferries to ease marine transport as well as revive marine transport which he argued had been abandoned for many years.

That Motion led to the House of Reps mandating the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to resume ferry services in the affected areas especially in the Oron route within 60 days.   The House also mandated the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to increase the number of emergency rescue patrol boats, monitor the waterways and ensure that ferries and boats operated in the country, especially in the Oron area, comply with Safety standards and maintain manifests of all marine passengers.

It also mandated the House Committee on Marine transport to continually monitor the activities and ensure that NIWA and NIMASA carry out the resolutions of House.

Besides his effective representation in the lower chamber of the National Assembly by way of sponsoring over ten life-touching Bills, Hon. Robinson Uwak has been consistent in touching the lives of the people of his constituency.

No wonder he was described as the best thing that has ever happened last year when he empowered 50 Oro youths with N250,000.00 each amounting to N12.5m for starting small and medium scale businesses, few months later he launched Education Initiative, provided study materials and free extra-mural classes for all Senior Secondary Schools in Oron Federal Constituency.

The House Member, in order to save lives and provide comfort in water transportation in his Constituency, pursued and secured  the two boats which had since been handed over to the National Inland Waterways Authority being the government agency in charge of for water transportation management.

Though the fare has not been made public, one of the lawmaker’s aides, while conducting our reporter around the boats said the best was yet to come to Oro people as his boss, Hon Uwak had promised to impact positively on the lives of his people. He further stated that the boats are fully air-conditioned powered by two (2) eighty five (85) horse power out-board engines and two (2) one hundred and fifteen (115) horse power for the bigger one. He assured that the fair will not be high “as these are gifts to Oro people through Hon. Robinson Uwak sagacity in the House of Reps.