Business
PH Airport Users Lament Scarcity Of Food
Users of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Friday, lamented over scarcity of food and snacks, as they could not find where to buy food while doing their businesses or waiting for flights at the airport.
Things became unbearable as more people trooped into the airport to receive those that came for the burial of late Herbert Wigwe, coupled with serious delay on flight movement, especially those from Abuja route, as there was serious search for what to eat by the crowd that were waiting for arrivals, including security operatives.
All the known places where food could be bought within the airport were sealed-off by the airport officials, on the alleged instructions of the Airport Manager, Micheal Arewa.
The Tide observed that the airport users (both business operators and those to receive their persons) were lamenting the unbearable situation.
Some of them said they arrived the airport as early as 8:00am , but could not find tangible food to eat as at 3:00pm.
Kingsley Owhor, one of the waiting persons The Tide interacted with, decried a situation where all canteens and restaurants at the airport were sealed-off by the airport management, leaving people stranded and hungry.
“I cannot imagine this type of thing happening in any other airport as big as Port Harcourt, but you can see it happening here, and nobody is doing anything about it”, he lamented.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed report reaching The Tide revealed that the food vendors have decided to protest against the Airport Manager’s decision to relocate them to a distant place, without any structure.
It was observed that all the known places where people could buy food at the airport have been sealed, including those at the cargo terminal.
The new Airport Manager, Michael Arewa, introduced some policies to generate more income for the airport, but there are lamentations regarding the harshness of such policies to the users of the airport.
Efforts were made by aviation correspondents to speak with the Manager, but he severally showed unwillingness to speak to the press.
Corlins Walter
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.