SM4CC SERIES: KURAMO OCEAN SURGE ON SALLAH

I was with a couple of friends in Ghana for a vacation. It was a good time, all rosy and tremendous fun. To cap the two week long holdiay, we paid a visit to a rocky beach, Labadi precisely. On arrival at the beach, we began exploring the beach and taking pictures when someone discovered a really cool spot for pictures – looked like something TuFace shot a video on.

It was a lone rock; a very, tiny island, you could wade through waist deep water or jump from the shores to get to - we immediately began to do that. Some of us were on the rocks taking poses and baring white teeth while, others took pictures from the shores, suggestions going back and forth between amateur photographers and expert “photographeds”, when it happened.

I found myself deep in chilling cold saltwater, performing what can be best described as a scramble for the surface, I was successful and upon drawing the first breath of fresh air, another wave swept over me, sucking me back in again. The receding waves tried to take me out to sea, but that lone rock served as barrier, so I kept slamming my back against it till somehow I touched dry sand.

Thankfully, we all survived, casualties been gadgets, clothing etc. Whenever I recall that event, I ask myself how it was possible that no one saw the waves approaching or whatever it was that swept us into the water. This is only one of the numerous questions I ask, and its being two years that incident occurred.

Today marks a week, seven days that we lost several lives to an ocean surge at Kuramo beach, some found, others still lost in the sea’s bowels.  They were residents and occupants of the various shanties that are prevalent on Lagos beaches. There is no certain number to the number of people lost, as there are varying numbers and stories coming from the media.

Ocean surges occur at least thrice a year, I wonder why this is the first time it’s tragic. What went wrong? “An ocean or storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with low pressure weather system. The surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean’s surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level. Low pressure at the centre of a weather system also has a small secondary effect, as can the bathymetry of the body of water. It is the combined effect of low pressure and persistent wind over a shallow water body, which is the most common cause of storm surge flooding problems.”

“Though nine bodies have so far been recovered and confirmed by NEMA officials while others, as claimed by residents were still missing, the ocean surge at Kuramo Beach and other areas of Lagos was natural phenomena while the human casualty could be blamed on carelessness of people living too close to the danger of coastline when early warning alerts were raised by appropriate authorities on the effect of climate change and global warming.”

The above paragraph is a part of the report presented by the National Emergency Management (NEMA) in a report it compiled on the conclusion of its investigation. The agency sounded a note of warning saying that more beaches might be affected by wave tide. They also said the cause of the surge was natural disaster while human casualty (people who live in shanties close to the shores) was man-made. So, PDP and CAN can stop bickering and work on a way forward.

My thoughts are no longer on the miracle I experienced but rather, the questions have only increased anytime I think of it, blame looking for where to be placed. Where were all those men you find in swimming trunk loitering around the shores? Why did Sallah have to be marred by such? Did the disaster have to happen? As a nation, we certainly can’t cope with natural disasters, considering we’ve managed to create and unfold some on ourselves, with others waiting to happen.

These questions will always linger, some of them never to be answered. So, I can only hope and pray for the families and friends of the bereaved, may God grant them strength to bear their loss, grace to heal and recover, and the courage to carry on with life even as their beloved ones rest in His bosom.

Source

Vanguard Newspaper

Fix you- Cold Play

I know someone who is HIV positive and I once assumed that of her mother's 2 children, she would be the first to die.

The first time I heard of her results 7 years ago, I was shocked. I knew people got infected but you never really believe just how true it is till it hits home. This not-blood-related cousin became part of the family when her mum who was Grandma's help, raised Grandma's kids when Grandma passed away at a relatively young age. For the purpose of this post, we would call Grandma's help ' Mummy Eko', Mummy Eko has two kids (though all Mummy Eko's children died at birth while grandma was alive, Grandma always prayed to see Mummy Eko's kids live past infancy) which we would call Aunty Rara and Uncle Jon jon!

The first time my Mama told me we had to go visit Mummy Eko because Aunty Rara was back home after she was diagonosed with HIV, I regretted the fact I hadn't packed long sleeves for our journey to the 'Ilu-Oke'. I walked to that building taking watch of everything. I stood by the wall away from the presumed sharp door locks and other objects. Mama seemed composed but I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was WORRIED, I didn't want to get IT!

The next time I saw any of Mummy Eko's kids was when Uncle Jon jon came to pick something at our house months after that visit to the "Ilu Oke" since he had become the major care taker of Mummy Eko, Aunty Rara and his own family. I was shocked when mama said we should feed him. I wanted to ask if I could give him bread and stew since he wouldn't need any cutlery to eat the meal. Uncle Jon jon wasn't the problem, I was just scared of the virus. Then Aunty Rara stayed over while we were hosting a four-day-event, I had to stop watching her like a hawk when the stress of hosting a party got to me.

Last year Uncle Jon jon came for my cousin's wedding in "Ilesha" because Mummy Eko is too old to travel and Aunty Rara was asked to stay with her. Nobody told us Uncle Jon jon had been sick before the party, he passed away about 2 weeks later. I have some pictures from that wedding where he was in the background and though I might not have built a relationship with him, his death was and still is, very saddening. Uncle Jon jon died of typhoid, many years after his twin who died at infanthood, some say his twin called him to the great beyond. Mummy Eko collapsed a couple of times after she got the news. Aunty Rara is still alive and I thank God for her life.

When you hear of death rates or statistics, they seem to be fabricated or just numbers while you seat in the comfort of your homes but, they aren't!

Last year, on the very first day of "working" at a government owned paediatric hospital, I heard a mother wail over a lost child . I stayed in a office close to the children's ward about a week long and I heard parents mourn dead children. The screams and shouts are always similar, you can tell what exactly they aren't saying....their temporary loss of hope, and uncertainty. It is so heart wrenching, it makes you pray away the grim reaper and mourn that child you never met.

I am not the only one who (previously) assumes that people with unsolvable diseases have the stamp of death, doctors do too. The death sentences some doctors pass are incomprehensible but I don't blame them, they are limited to the advancement of science and technology, bound to ethics and knowledge of medical research. Yet medical research is limited to God's revelation and its timing.

Some break the news of a disease without a known cure and leave their patients at their own mercy. Telling a person that there isn't hope would kill the person faster than the disease and that is the reason for the placebo. You should check out the placebo effect, its a cure in the mind.
Doctors are humans too and they have their faith and beliefs or not. Still they can only know what God reveals to them and at its appointed time. The Greatest 'Rapha' has no limitations, he opens the eyes of blind; makes the lame walk; raises the dead; heals the sick and amongst other things, God made man and breathe life into him (Gen 2:7).

So the next time the doctors says cancer, claim life; the next time he says glaucoma and loss of sight, claim perfect sight. Whatever you hear that is against your will and the plan of God for your life, reject it because it is time to speak to your Father and your Maker. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13

I told you already, I love Jesus.

 Juanita

SM4CC SERIES: REFUSE DUMPS TO GARBAGE ISLANDS

The above picture represents all the farewell or welcome I receive leaving or entering the building I live in. This, this eyesore, has being a constant source of worry and all efforts put in to rectify this have been frustrated – the extra trash bins have not been provided neither have the LAWMA officials increased their pick up rounds. Any time I see the above, the pictures, I make a deliberate and conscious effort not to be sad. Haba!

What does it take for the LAWMA officials to have a number or something which Lagosians can call as soon as they have sufficient trash? Why wait for their bi-weekly runs? Two weeks is a long time to leave refuse lying around, especially for a state like Lagos, where the rain comes, our drainages get blocked and then, flooding. Which reminds me, please let’s stop clearing our drainages (gutters) and then leave the waste by the roadside.

Going around my neighborhood, such heaps exist everywhere. Hence, I have often tried to imagine if other residents are faced with the same situation and complained as often as I have to no avail. Now, try and imagine if this is the situation in some areas of Lagos, it is a recipe for disaster. Please, effective and prompt disposal of waste would go a long way in avoiding/fighting floods.

It’s such a relief I’ve being able to put this out there, thanks to an article I came across sometime in the past month. The write up spoke about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which somehow I have never heard about but brought to mind the floating debris I see on the Lagoon whenever I’m on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Of course, I got online and read as much as I could, a link to a short and educative read is below, and found out there’s an Atlantic Garbage Patch too. I don’t know if it is a good thing or not that for now, it is on the North Atlantic i.e. around America, Cuba etc. All I know is attention needs to be paid to this. Why?

I mentioned noticing smaller garbage patches on the Lagos Lagoon earlier, I don’t know too much of geography but I do know that the Lagoon empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Lagos Harbor.  It isn’t too much of a stretch to say the all that garbage empties into the Atlantic, is it? It is a post for another day but early findings and investigations show that, waste management in Lagos isn’t “all that”, what is done with all the waste? Where does it go?

Sources

1.     Great Pacific Garbage Patch

2.     Atlantic Garbage Patch

3.     Trash Islands

SM4CC SERIES: PEOPLE’S VIEWS – PART 1

I have being getting some response from people who have read various posts under the series. The feedback has being mostly verbal, hence, I tried convincing some of the people who I spoke with to put their opinions on document and succeeded. Hopefully with this, more people/you would be encouraged to either comment on the posts or send their/your opinions concerning climate change, environmental issues etc. to adeyemioluwatosin@gmail.com. Thank you.

Below are the opinions of my first two respondents – I do hope you enjoy reading them, the issues they mentioned and seeing from their perspective. Remember, I look forward to your comments and opinions on anything and everything “environmental” in Nigeria. Enjoy.

“According to statistics, Nigeria is one of the lowest contributors to global warming. it is also amongst the least countries effecting a change in global warming. The average Nigerian has probably never heard the phrase “global warming” but, is very much aware that the weather has been acting strange. How exactly do you educate people who live well below poverty level about global warming; what is it exactly you want them to do? Do you want to tell the old lady who roasts fish for commercial purpose in order to feed her family of seven that she is affecting the ozone when she hardly is? The sad fact is the government and wealthy corporations would rather sand fill the ocean than fix what is already broken, part of Lagos is now beneath sea level. Its high time Nigerians both rich and small take responsibility for its environment. Don't block the drainage with waste you know isn't biodegradable then weep when your streets are flooded because the truth is, in an indirect way, you invited the flood. Waste that cannot be broken down by living organisms are known as non-biodegradable (wikipedia.org ;-D). In other words, waste such as those aluminum cans the carbonated drinks you consume come in, would take about 80 years to decompose. In some countries, manufacturers pay consumers money when they return its containers for recycling (make money; save money; clean the streets). We would achieve more on reversing global warming if we had more regards for how we dispose waste.”

“Climate change is no news, I guess every country has its share already. What do you think would happen when everyone does not care about the environment they live in? Both big and small, in their best way burn fossil fuel – the woman who uses firewood and the man that drives his car, give away carbon monoxide cheerfully. The multinationals, or so called big chip companies, joyfully release theirs, the local SMEs competing too. Oh! I’m not left out – my father’s generator. I heard my country Nigeria has only four percent (4%) of its land mass as forests, far below the international requirement of twenty five percent (25%). Everywhere I turn, to the left or right, especially when traveling to my hometown, and even yours too, I hardly see those tall trees I used to see when I was younger. My government and her people have earned some of their wealth through illegal logging of those trees.  Now, when I breathe out carbon dioxide, where are the trees to take it in? When I need my air, fresh and pure, no more trees to help. The greenhouse effect is here with us, even the ozone layer is crying out for help. The chloroflouro carbons are depleting its layer, and now we all too are crying because, the consequence of this is climate change. The seasons have changed. Please help, plant these trees, plant two for every one fell. Afforestation, stop greenhouse emission.”