NEWS
Floods Displace 404 Million Students Worldwide – World Bank
According to a recent World Bank report, over 404 million students globally have been impacted by climate-related school closures between January 2022 and June 2024.
The report, titled “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action,” attributes these closures to at least 81 countries temporarily shutting down schools due to severe weather events such as floods, storms, and heatwaves.
The report highlights that climate change is increasingly disrupting education, causing significant school closures that often go untracked by relevant authorities. This lack of data makes the issue less visible, despite its growing severity.
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Recent floods in Nigeria exemplify the dire situation. Last week, the overflow of the Alau Dam in Borno State displaced nearly two million people in Maiduguri and surrounding areas. Additionally, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that students in certain parts of Nigeria missed up to 53 school days due to flooding. The “Nigeria Flood Impact Recovery Mitigation Assessment Report 2022-2023” revealed that around 1.3 million Nigerians were affected by flooding from July to October 2022, with states like Bayelsa, Delta, and Anambra being severely impacted.
The World Bank’s report underscores that while education has the potential to drive climate action, climate change is simultaneously impeding educational progress. Extreme weather events, including floods and heatwaves, are leading to increased school closures, resulting in significant learning losses and higher dropout rates.
The report also notes that for less than $20 per student, schools can adapt to minimise these learning losses. It calls on governments to integrate climate education into curricula, improve teacher training, and focus on green skills and innovation to better prepare students for climate challenges.
Education is crucial for climate action, as it reshapes behaviours, develops essential skills, and fosters innovation. However, despite its importance, education remains underfunded in the climate agenda. The report argues for increased climate finance directed towards education to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The report further emphasises that education improves climate awareness and equips students with green skills needed for both new and existing jobs. It highlights the urgent need for educational systems to adapt and address the growing impact of climate change, ensuring that students are not left behind in the face of increasing extreme weather events.
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.
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