Business
NIESV To Undertake Housing Study In Rivers

The Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, says it has concluded plans to undertake a housing study that would make available, data of residents for planning and development.
Newly elected Chairman of the chapter, Hamilton Odom revealed this in a media parley, weekend.
He stated that the study, which would commence before the end of 2020 would span a period of six months.
Odom noted that prior to this time, there were no basic information on data regarding the number and type of households in the state, which explained would come in handy in planning and emergencies.
According to him: “There was no basic information on data to assist government in the distribution of palliative, because if we know that on Olu-Obasanjo Road, there are 50 houses, you can tell the number of households we have on Olu-Obasanjo Road. The study would tell you that you have 10 blocks of flats and each block has four flats. Assuming they are all blocks of four flats, you know you have forty households from the 10 blocks of flats. It would tell you how many dethatched houses you have, it will tell you how many semi-dethatched houses you have and so on. So you can actually estimate the number of households you have on each street which would be very useful in times of emergency, not just for planning, but also in times of emergency.”
The NIESVs chairman expressed optimism that the study would be of immense assistance to the National Population Commission when completed.
He observed that the study was important, especially now, given the extent of urban drift.
He said: “Port Harcourt is expanding on all frontiers every day. Those of us who were born here, we knew that before now Port Harcourt did not exceed the Rainbow Town and perhaps somewhere around Mile 4/Mile 5 down to Rumuokoro, those were the outer fringes of Port Harcourt, but you can see now that with urbanisation and rapid growth in the city, you can see Port Harcourt has stretched up to Iguruwta, Choba down to Akpajo even heading towards Eleme, and to parts of Okrika from the Old Port Harcourt Township.”
By: Tonye Nria-Dappa
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.