Business
Minister Decries Slow Pace Of Work On Baro Port
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman on Friday in Baro, Niger, decried the slow pace of dredging at the Baro Port by the contractors.
Suleiman, who paid an inspection visit to the lower River Niger dredging project, noted that the project was awarded to CGGC Zhang Heng, a Chinese Company in December 2009.
He said that by now there ought to have been physical structures such as administrative buildings on site.
He described the attitude as lackadaisical, adding that based on general views of those who had visited the site earlier. It was as if no work was on-going.
According to him, some of the indigenes confirmed that the contractors only mobilised to the site that morning because they were aware of the minister’s visit.
He urged the contractors to expedite, saying that if by his next visit in three months and no tangible progress was made, he would not hesitate to take some drastic actions.
“I am not impressed with what I have seen, the project has been stalled for the past six months, but in three months; time I will pay another unscheduled visit and if the situation is still the same, I will take a final decision on the project.
“I would like to see by next visit some physical infrastructure otherwise we will review the project by awarding it to another contractor,” Suleiman said.
Responding, Mr. Xtao Kunlei, CGGC Project Manager, blamed the lapses on bad roads stressing that his company was finding it difficult to covey its equipment to the site.
He also blamed the lapses on the additional detailed design drawings that came up later, stressing that they would necessitate some adjustments during construction of the port and some parts of the main layout plan.
Kunlei assured the minister that in spite of the difficult terrain and bad road, the job would be completed on schedule and according to specification.
“By our plan from now till the next eight months, the administrative building, water house, generator house, security office among others would be completed,” he assured the governor.
The project site is located in Baro town of Niger State, 240 kilometres from Abuja.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
