Special Adviser to Gov. Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State on Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Nasiru Kalambaina, has charged practicing Journalists to ensure maximum awareness on disaster issues.

Kalambaina made the call during an interactive session with disaster management stakeholders on Tuesday in Sokoto state.

He reiterated the state government’s readiness to work with media outfits and other organizations on tackling disasters and other phenemena that have direct bearing to the development of the state.

The governor’s aide commended the Christian Aid and Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) and other NGOs for thier commitments on disaster response, mitigation and other activities toward safeguarding people’s lives across the state.

Kalambaina stressed that the move by the two organizations would greatly assist the state government in addressing flood and other forms of disasters.

In his address, the Christian Aid representative in Sokoto State, Mr Yusuf Yusuf, said the meeting, tagged ‘Sustainable Plan Activities ‘, was geared towards improving synergy among the stakeholders and agencies with a view to mitigating the impact of flood disaster in the state.

Yusuf said the objective was to strengthen the ‘Disaster risk Management Value Chain’ in the targeted states in a bid to complement the efforts of the state governments in mitigating the effects of flooding for socio-security and sustainable development.

He explained that the programme was carried out in Sokoto South, Goranyo and Rabah as well as Jama’a, Kauru and Zaria Local Governments of Sokoto and Kaduna States, respectively.

Yusuf added that the organizations had also conducted a workshop aimed at discussing the achievements and prospectd of flood ‘Disaster Risk Management Programme’ in Sokoto State.

A participant and the Chairman of Disaster Management Platform, Alhaji Aminu Mabera, appealed to the Sokoto State Government to always take proactive responses to disasters.

The project was funded by the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and implemented by the Christian Aid and COOPI organization in Sokoto and Kaduna States.

The event witnessed a presentation by SEMA’s Director, Reliefs and Rehabilitation, Mr Mustapha Umar, on SEMA activities and previous statistics and corroborated by Mr Aminu Ambursa, the Official of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The federal government of Nigeria has pledged to implement the Integrated Water Resources Management, IWRM, principle to improve the quality and quantity of the nations’ surface and groundwater resources.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev said this in a news conference in commemoration of the 2023 World Rivers Day in Abuja on Monday.

Utsev said the IWRM principle ensures sustainable management of available water resources for the present and future needs of the people.

He said it would facilitate better water management in actualising and harnessing both surface and groundwater to support the nation’s socio-economic growth.

Utsev said in spite of government’s efforts to improve potable water supply to all Nigerians, the national access to water supply is still about 67 per cent, which is below the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 100 per cent by 2030.

The dismal coverage, he said, was attributable to a variety of factors, such as under-utilisation of impounded water in the dam reservoirs, inadequate funding, and low private sector investment in the sector.

The minister said to address some of these issues, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had constructed 260 dams across the country.

He said the Ministry has also impounded nearly 70 Billion Cubic Meters of bulk water in dam reservoirs for multipurpose uses in water supply, sanitation, irrigation, hydropower generation and others.

He, however, urged all Nigerians to be advocates in saving the nations rivers, saying indiscriminate dumping of toxic products, wastes, and plastics should be stopped.

Nigeria’s immediate past vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has been named as the new Chair of Board of Directors of the Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A), a public benefit organisation working to unlock Africa’s potential as a global hub for climate action.

This appointment was well expected as the ex-President was known to push the Climate Change Agenda during his tenure.

Mohammed Brimah, who signed a release from the Media Office of Prof. Osinbajo, said the organisation made the announcement in a statement.

Brimah explained that “CAP-A’s work is informed by the realisation that Africa’s demographics, growth trajectory and natural resource endowments, coupled with its extremely low levels of current carbon emissions, enable the continent to aspire to not just net-zero but a substantial net-negative carbon footprint sooner than any other part of the world,”

According him, while accepting the appointment, Prof. Osinbajo said, “since the recent founding of CAP-A, I have witnessed their work in shifting the global and continental narrative from Africa being a victim of the climate crisis to holding the key to accelerating global climate action.

“I’m honored to join the Board of Directors as Chair in support of CAP-A’s teams and programs across the continent, and in realizing Africa’s economic development through Climate Positive Growth.”

Brimah also said that CAP-A’s founder, James Mwangi stated that they were “deeply honored to have Prof. Osinbajo join the CAP-A Board of Directors as Chair to assist with the next phase of our growth and our mission of unlocking Africa’s potential as a global hub for climate action.”

Mwamgi said that the former vice president’s vast experience and passion for transforming African countries’ economies in harmony with climatic needs, would be invaluable to CAP-A’s mission, especially coming out of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit that made a strong push for accelerated climate action.

The Islas Marietas National Park, more commonly known as the Marieta Islands, is a group of small uninhabited islands which are considered to be a popular tourist destination, and it is located in the Municipality of Bahía de Banderas, which is part of the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit, within the United Mexican States.

The islands group was formed thousands of years ago by the volcanic activity in the area which nowadays is almost non-existent, and due to the proximity to the mainland of Mexico, they are greatly visited, especially by birdwatchers, who would like to enjoy in the mesmerizing nature.

With only one hour boat ride from the Mexican beach resort city of Puerto Vallarta, or even 15 minutes boat ride from the resort area of Punta Mita, the Islas Marietas are flocked by tourists, and also many species of birds.

Unfortunately, the Mexican government in the early 1900s used the islands for bombings and large explosions, which caused many caves and rock formations to be created.

Due to this, even though some people have not heard about the islands, nowadays they must have seen the jaw-dropping photos of some of the impressive hidden beaches.

After the massive international outcry that began by scientist Jacques Cousteau in late 1960s, the Mexican government fortunately decided to create the National Park which protected the area from any fishing, hunting or human activity.

Today, there are more than 100 different bird species that call these islands home, and among them the most interesting is the blue-footed booby, which in fact is a funny-sounding bird with aqua blue feet.

In addition, there are different species of flora, which led to the inclusion of the park on the Ramsar Wetlands List.

The entire ecosystem includes the more common Pacific marine life, like dolphins, Manta Rays, eels, sea turtles, humpback whales and a number of tropical fish.

The most common photo that is circulating around is from La Playa del Amor, or more commonly referred to as the Hidden Beach which is only visible from above.

In order to reach this small area, there is a tunnel which is some 15 meters (50 feet) long, which should be always accessed during low tide, where the end will reveal a large hole in the middle of the island that opens up directly under the blue sky.

Due to the highly regulated visits to the islands, the best way to experience the Marieta Islands is by hiring a local tour guide who will take you there and show you the most significant, most mesmerizing places that look like in a painting.

Even the Mexican authorities are taking every necessary precaution, and with their several plans to undo the damage that has already been done to the beaches and the islands, they began bringing back the islands to their former glory.

Replanting the corals in order to compensate for the coral that has been destroyed is a major feat, but it is something that takes everyone in the right direction.

As it requires years for the islands to gain what was lost, everyone coming here needs to be quite cautious in order not to cause any further damages, and to take back everything that is going to be brought.

All in all, one of the most amazing, most mesmerizing natural landmark from Mexico, the Islas Marietas National Park shall continue to be the “hidden” gem of Nayarit, which will be on the wish list to visit of everyone that comes to the grand nation of Mexico.