Business
FG To Commission Onitsha River Port, Soon
Importers in Onitsha, Anambra State would soon heave a sigh of relief as the Federal Government would soon commission the Onitsha River Port.
The Port, The Tide correspondent gathered, is equipped with modern cargo handling equipments among other facilities.
The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan disclosed this during this year’s Democracy Day broadcast in Abuja, last Tuesday.
He said his administration had within the last one month completed the capital dredging of the lower River Niger from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State in order to boost inland water transportation.
President Jonathan further disclosed that work would commence on the dredging of the River Benue in addition to the construction of River ports at Baro in Niger State, Oguta in Imo State and Jamata/Lokoja in Kogi State this year.
The President noted that since his assumption of office, his administration had focused attention on ports and customs reforms to ensure efficiency in the handling of ports and ports related businesses, adding, “our administration has stream linedbureaucratic activities at the ports by reducing the number of agencies from fourteen to seven.”
According to him, government had also reduced the time for the clearance of goods from precisely a month to just seven days with the long term objective of ensuring that cargoes are cleared within 48 hours in line with international best practice.
In the meantime, our ports, for the first time, now open for business for 24 hours, he reiterated, and further assured stakeholders in the Maritme sector that better days are coming for all investors and importers to do business in Nigeria.
Collins Barasimeye
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.