Business
RSG Condemns Polo Club’s Environmental Condition
The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Kingsely Chinda has decried the deplorable environmental condition of Polo Club at the new GRA, Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner expressed his displeasure on Friday while supervising the demolition of dilapidated stables at the Polo Club.
Chinda who was represented by the Director of Environment and Safety, Mr Napoleon Ewule told newsmen that four years ago, the Ministry of Environment served the management of the club notice to abate the nuisance resulting from the faeces of the animal (horses), saying that instead of assuaging the problems, the management went to court, but later withdrew the case, promising to rehabilitate the place.
He said, ever since, the Polo Club had remained the same with the odour from the horses faeces polluting the air around the environment, noting that the state government decided to pull down the dilapidated structures in order to avert spread of disease to the people living in the environment.
According to him, the structures were built on fence wall contrary to the state health laws adding that the animals co-habited with the stable boys who may be contaminated by the animals.
He advised the authority to rebuild the stables to international standard, adding that in rebuilding the stables, the Ministry of Environment should be contacted for approval.
In his reaction, Tella Anthony, one of the owners of the demolished stables complained that the demolition was hasty which has rendered the animals homeless.
He however, admitted that the management had not done enough to improve the condition of Polo Club.
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.
