Business
Commissioner Lists Gains Of Road Project
The Rivers State Com
missioner for Works Bathuel Harrison, has expressed optimism that the on-going Bori-Sakpenwa road project in the state would create more employment opportunities to communities in the area.
Harrison who stated this recently while inspecting some roads projects in the state explained that chiefs in the area would be consulted for job opportunities when available.
He explained that materials for the job are already being brought to the site, even as he expressed happiness with the pace of work by the company handling the project.
Harrison disclosed that the road project was just flagged-off barely four weeks ago.
According to him, the government would see to the challenge of compensation to those that the road construction may likely affect their property.
“Hopefully, in the next one week, we should see to that so that the valuers would come to evaluate the property and the contractors would clear up”, he said.
The works boss stated that the government plans to clear the issues of employment iaising with chiefs in the area.
“We just have to clear with the issues of employment which we have taken some steps. “We will meet with the chiefs and through the chiefs, there will be an equal spread of job opportunities for the affected communities”, he said.
However, some of the affected properly owners who spoke to The Tide during a visit to the area by our correspondent expressed the fear that no amount of money paid to them by the government would be enough to relocate them to build new houses.
However, others have called for cooperation between the government and those affected property owners.
They say whatever the government gives out should be complemented by those affected for the overall interest of the project.
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.
