Business
Landlords Laud RSG Over Planned Compensation
The Rivers State Govern
ment has been lauded over plans to fully compensate landlords of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPCDA).
Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt Monday, a Community leader, Chief Peter Imo, said it was a welcomed development.
He said it was painful for landlords to go almost empty-handed after the state government had acquired their land for development purposes.
Imo, who is the Nye Chi Ali,Omuchi, Igwuruta in Ikwerre local government area, noted that the moves by the authority has so far proved its determination to restore the lost glory of the state.
According to him, no government would have claimed to be of the people while its citizens are wallowing in poverty, saying that Wike meant well for the people.
He also called on the agency to carry out an appropriate census of the people as to ascertain those whose lands were actually acquired to avoid any form of cheating and deprivation of genuine landlords.
The community leader, regretted that the immediate past administration in the state ventured into the area and compulsorily acquired their land without fully compensating the said affected persons.
He explained that the lands now housing GPCDA was the only source of income for the people as it served as farm land, adding that the people source of livelihood should be improved upon in a bid to advert hunger and poverty.
Also speaking, Comrade Eko Okpara, said the compensation should be in line with what is currently obtainable in other areas where compensation had been paid.
He narrated that Ikwerre people depend on their land for agricultural purposes in addition to trading and business, and stressed that forceful acquisition of their land would deprive them of their source of survival.
Okpara, who is also the community’s scribe, called on the state government to form a committee to oversee the compensation while advising that interest parties should not be part of the committee.
It would be recalled that the state government through the sole Administrator of GPPCDA, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, promised to pay full compensation to the landlords of the authority as against the N350,000 per plot paid them by the past administration.
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.