Business
Rivers Works Ministry Denies Sticker Sales …Opens Tam David-West Road, Soon

The Rivers State Ministry of Works says it has not collaborated with anyone to print and sell stickers on its behalf.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Ministry, Edna Alette said the ministry’s core mandate is on road rehabilitation and construction, and not revenue collection.
The statement which was obtained by The Tide recently, said the clarification became necessary after its attention was drawn to the sale of vehicle stickers to commercial vehicles and purported to be in collaboration with the state internal revenue board.
The statement further called on members of the public to report anyone selling such stickers to the police.
In another development, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Bethuel Harrison, says a section of the Tam David-West Road linking the Airport will be opened to traffic before the end of January, 2017.
Harrison stated this recently during an inspection of the Ozuoba/Rumuopareli/Choba/Tam David-West roads.
He said the measure would enable commuters to use the road in the interim to ease traffic on the Airport Road.
“We have seen that on lane, they have begun to stabilise the road, they have done stone base from the Obiri Ikwerre end to the Airport end.
“We are hoping that when they resume from the Christmas break, they will be able to complete the binder cause for this particular lane”, he said.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
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.