Business
Expert Calls For Environmental Safety In Mining Sites
An environmentalist,
Aisha Okunade, yesterday called on relevant authorities to ensure environmental safety in mining sites through effective regulations.
Okunade, who is a lecturer, School of Environmental Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.
“The effect of mining is being compounded by the continues rise in water level, thereby exposing those who reside near river banks and flood-prone areas to the risk of flood.
“The demand for sand and gravel for construction has been on the increase across the country and there is the need for regulation,” the environmentalist said.
She noted that mining operators, in conjunction with recognised resource agencies, should work hard to ensure that miners who excavate sand do so to protect the environment.
Okunade described excessive in-stream sand mining as a threat to bridges, river banks and nearby structures, putting them at risk of collapse.
“There has to be periodic assessment of how much sand can be sustainably mined, as the quantity can vary from a river to river and within a river from stretch to stretch.’’
Illegally dredged sand, Okunade added, was equivalent to robbing water.
“Sand holds a lot of water and when it is mindlessly mined and laden on to trucks, large quantities of water are lost in transit,“ she said.
Okunade, however, advised that limits should be placed on the quantities of sand that could be mined.
“There needs to be restriction as thousands of tonnes of sand are being illegally mined to meet the rising demand of construction industry and for extraction of minerals”, she 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.
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