Science

By Aminu Babayo Shehu

The recent move by Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South, to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, from a University of Technology to a conventional university has stirred deep concern among stakeholders, alumni, and advocates of science and technology education. The bill, which has already passed second reading in the Senate, risks undoing decades of progress that ATBU has made in advancing technology-driven learning and innovation in Nigeria.

In an era when nations are competing through science, technology, and innovation, Nigeria cannot afford to take a step backwards. Around the world, technology is driving development, job creation, and national competitiveness. From Artificial Intelligence to Robotics, Biotechnology, and Cybersecurity, the future of work and industry is being reshaped by technology. It is therefore troubling that, instead of strengthening one of Nigeria’s most respected technology-based universities, the discussion is now about diluting its identity.

ATBU has earned its reputation as one of the country’s leading technological institutions. For decades, it has produced graduates who are not only competent but highly sought after in both the public and private sectors. Alumni of the university are excelling in software engineering, telecommunications, construction, fintech, and data science. Many are leading teams, building products, and contributing to the growth of major organisations across Nigeria and abroad.

In recent years, the university has made even more progressive strides. The Faculty of Computing, for instance, has expanded its curriculum beyond traditional Computer Science to include new, globally relevant courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, and Cyber Security. These additions are clear evidence that ATBU is aligning itself with international trends and preparing students for the realities of the modern digital economy.

Instead of seeking to convert ATBU into a conventional university, the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders should focus on strengthening its technological capacity and research base. There are better, more visionary ways to make the institution self-sustaining and impactful. Establishing Artificial Intelligence research laboratories, cybersecurity and digital forensics hubs, robotics and automation labs, and technology incubation centres would attract both local and international partnerships. Such facilities could become national assets for innovation, startups, and industrial research.

Globally, top universities have achieved great success by maintaining and deepening their technological focus. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, Tsinghua University in China, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) are shining examples of institutions that have transformed their nations through technology-driven education and research. Nigeria should be learning from these models, not abandoning its own.

Turning ATBU into a conventional university would water down its focus and weaken the very foundation on which it was established. What Nigeria needs today are more institutions that specialise in applied sciences, engineering, and emerging technologies; not fewer.

This proposal, though perhaps well-intentioned, is ill-timed and misdirected. The challenges of the 21st century demand more innovation, not less. The future will belong to nations that invest in science, technology, and knowledge creation.

ATBU should remain what it was meant to be: a University of Technology dedicated to building Nigeria’s next generation of innovators, engineers, and researchers. To do otherwise would not just be a loss for Bauchi or Northern Nigeria, but for the entire country.

Aminu Babayo Shehu is a Software Engineer and alumnus of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He writes from Kano via absheikhone@gmail.com.

By Rabiu Elkanawi

Mr Sulaiman Abbas, a Nigerian-born researcher, is contributing significantly to scientific innovation with his groundbreaking work that has the potential to transform global approaches to climate change.

Abbas, having obtained his MSc from Tianjin University in China, co-authored a highly cited paper on interface engineering for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂). His research investigates the potential of meticulously engineered nanomaterials and catalyst interfaces to transform CO₂, a significant factor in climate change, into useful fuels and industrial chemicals.

“I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to identifying solutions in the face of challenges,” Abbas stated. 

In Nigeria, industries and power stations emit significant quantities of CO₂, which is frequently regarded merely as waste. My research aims to convert waste gas into valuable resources for energy production and manufacturing.

This study elucidates the engineering of metal–metal, metal–oxide, and molecular interfaces to facilitate the efficient breakdown of CO₂, addressing the resilient chemical bonds that complicate its processing. Abbas’s research enhances catalyst performance, indicating novel methods for producing clean fuels, chemicals, and power storage systems, while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Nigeria’s reliance on oil and gas causes environmental issues like rising emissions. Abbas’ research suggests capturing CO₂ from industries, developing low-carbon sectors for green jobs, and rural electrification using CO₂ conversion with solar and wind energy.

Mr Abbas is pursuing a PhD in Solid State Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and is part of international networks on sustainability and clean energy. His work highlights a circular carbon economy, where Nigeria and developing nations turn environmental challenges into innovation catalysts.

In the pursuit of carbon-neutral technologies, innovators such as Mr Abbas demonstrate that Nigeria’s emerging scientists are prepared to take a leadership role.

By Fatima Badawi

Scholars, educators and policymakers converged at Bayero University, Kano this week for the 5th International Conference of the Nigeria Centre for Reading Research and Development (NCRRD). Held under the theme “Reading Research and Practice: The Implication of Artificial Intelligence,” the conference examined how AI-driven technologies are reshaping reading instruction, literacy assessment, publishing and access to texts across Nigeria and the larger Global South.

The opening session featured a keynote address delivered in absentia by Dr. Aminu Maida, who was represented on the platform by Dr. Isma’il Adegbite. Dr. Maida, who currently serves as a leading figure in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications space, set the tone by urging researchers and practitioners to treat AI as both an opportunity and a responsibility: a tool that can expand access to reading materials and personalized learning, but one that must be governed by inclusive policy and literacy-centred design.

The conference’s intellectual programme was anchored by lead papers from eminent figures in Nigerian education and development. Professor Sadiya Daura, Director General of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), presented her lead paper on teacher preparation for AI-enhanced classrooms, arguing that pre-service and in-service teacher education must integrate digital literacies and critical appraisal of algorithmic tools. Professor Mohammed Laminu Mele, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, addressed infrastructure and equity, highlighting that without targeted investment in connectivity and localized content, AI risks widening existing literacy gaps in underserved communities.

Furthermore, in her remarks, Professor Amina Adamu, Director of the Nigeria Centre for Reading Research and Development, framed the conference’s aims around actionable outcomes: stronger university–school partnerships, pilot programmes that deploy AI tools for mother-tongue reading instruction, and an ethics working group to develop guidelines for the use of automated assessment and adaptive reading platforms. In her remarks Professor Adamu emphasised the Centre’s commitment to research that is directly useful to classrooms and communities in Northern Nigeria. She also commended and thanked all the partners who are always there for the Centre right from its inception to date. Some of the International and Local partners who participate in the conference include; QEDA, Ubongo, NERDC, UBEC, Plain, USAID among many others.

Some of the panel discussions explored concrete applications: on how AI-assisted text-to-speech and speech-to-text for low-resource languages; automated item generation for formative reading assessments; and data-driven reading interventions that preserve local genres and oral traditions rather than replacing them. Most of the papers presented during the event stressed that technology pilots must be accompanied by teacher coaching, community engagement and open-access content.

Participants included university academics, representatives from teacher education institutions, ministry officials, civil society literacy advocates and publishing professionals. The conference closed with a call for a multi-stakeholder roadmap: investment in localized datasets and annotated corpora for Nigerian languages, professional development pathways for teachers, and research ethics protocols to ensure that AI systems amplify, rather than marginalize, local knowledge and reading practices.

Organisers said the 5th NCRRD conference will feed into pilot projects and policy briefs to be shared with educational authorities and development partners. Delegates left with a clear message: AI’s promise for reading and literacy is real, but realising it will require literate design, purposeful investment and a sustained partnership between researchers, teachers and communities.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

KANO — Nigeria has earned international recognition following the appointment of Professor Rabia Sa’id, a renowned physicist from Bayero University Kano, to a newly established United Nations independent scientific panel tasked with assessing the impacts of nuclear war.

The 21-member panel, constituted under UN Resolution 79/238, will provide a comprehensive scientific report on the consequences of nuclear conflict by 2027. The panel is part of a broader global initiative aimed at strengthening nuclear disarmament efforts and promoting peace through evidence-based research.

Professor Sa’id’s inclusion in the panel underscores Nigeria’s increasing influence in global peacebuilding, science diplomacy, and advocacy for nuclear non-proliferation. Her appointment is being hailed as a significant milestone for Nigerian science and for women in STEM across Africa.

A respected scholar and advocate for science education and sustainable development, Professor Sa’id brings to the panel a wealth of academic experience and a strong commitment to global security.

Her appointment has been widely celebrated within Nigeria’s academic and diplomatic communities as a positive step toward the country’s deeper engagement in global scientific and humanitarian initiatives.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies on the evening of March 13 and early morning of March 14, providing an incredible opportunity for stargazers to witness the phenomenon of the “Blood Moon.”

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, causing the Moon to pass through Earth’s shadow.

During a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. It is this alignment that gives the Moon its characteristic red-orange hue.

In Huntsville, the eclipse will begin in its partial phases at 10:57 p.m. on March 13, with totality occurring between 1:26 a.m. and 2:31 a.m. on March 14.

The maximum eclipse will be visible at 1:58 a.m.

The entire event will conclude at 5:00 a.m.While March often brings spring showers and clouds, there’s still a good chance the eclipse will be visible.

The brief period of totality lasts nearly an hour, and even with scattered clouds, the red-orange hue of the Moon may still be visible.

For optimal viewing, be sure to step away from city lights, and binoculars can enhance the experience.

NASA explains that sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere illuminates the Moon during an eclipse, with shorter wavelengths like blue scattering away.

This leaves the longer wavelengths – red and orange – to give the Moon its signature color.

If there’s more dust or cloud cover in Earth’s atmosphere, the redder the Moon will appear.

By Saifullahi Attahir

If there was ever anything that gave me goosebumps and immense pleasure, it was being surrounded by intellectuals and mature minds absorbing facts and figures about governance, economics, public health, policymaking, national security, and international relations. In such situations I easily lose myself, forgetting almost all other things.

Even at medical school, my best lectures were those with frequent digressions, whereby the lecturer would discuss the pathogenesis of diseases for 30 minutes and later sidetrack into discussing politics, governance, or other life issues. I always enjoyed classes led by Prof. Sagir Gumel, Dr. Murtala Abubakar, Dr. Rasheed Wemimo, Dr. Aliyu Mai Goro, and co. During such lectures, I often observed some of my colleagues disappointment for such deviation. I rather casually show indifference, for I was eternally grateful for such discussions due to the stimulatory effect they had on my mind.

After such classes, I sometimes followed up with the lecturer, not to ask about a medical concept I did not grasp, but to ask for further explanation on policy making, project execution, budgetary expenditures, why African countries are left behind, and similar pressing issues.

In situations where I can’t catch up with the lecturer, I jotted down the questions for further deliberation.

One of the manifest feature I know about my greediness was at reading books. I can open five different books in a day. I lack such discipline to finish up one before another. I can start reading ‘Mein Kampf’ by Adolf Hitler, and halfway through 300 pages, I would pick up ‘My Life’ by Sir Ahmadu Bello, and would have to concurrently read both until the end.

I often scolded myself for such an attitude, but I can’t help myself. The only way to practice such discipline was to at least read two different books in a day. Such was a triumph in my practice of self-discipline. This was apart from my conventional medical textbooks.

To some of my friends, I was called an accidental medical doctor, but actually it was a perfect fate guided by the merciful Lord that I’m studying medicine. For it was only medicine that makes reading books easier for you. Although time is precious in this profession, but one finds it easier to do anything you are passionate about. The daily interaction we have with people at their most vulnerable state was another psychostimulant. Seeing humans suffering from disease conditions is heartachy. Some of the causes are mere ignorance, poverty, superstitions, and limited resources.

The contribution one can give couldn’t be limited to just prescribing drugs or surgical procedures that end up affecting one person. It’s much better to involve one self in to position that may bring possible change to the whole society even in form of orientation.

What also motivated me more was how I wasn’t the first to traverse this similar path. Bibliophiles were common among medical students and medical professionals.

At international level, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, was a physician. Most of the current economic development of Malaysia was attributed to him. The South American revolutionary figure Che Guevara was a physician. Atul Gawande was an endocrinologist, health policy analyst, adviser to former President Obama, campaign volunteer to former President Bill Clinton, and adviser to USAID/WHO on health policies.

Frantz Fanon was another physician, psychiatrist, racial discrimination activist, and political writer. Dr. Zakir Naik was a renowned Islamic scholar, comparative religion expert, and physician.

At the national level, Prof. Usman Yusuf is a haematologist, former NHIS DG, and currently a political activist. Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Taura was a psychiatrist and former SSG to the Jigawa state government. Dr. Nuraddeen Muhammad was a psychiatrist and former cabinet minister to President Goodluck Jonathan.

During ward rounds and clinics, my mind often wanders to enquire not just about the diagnosis but the actual cause of the disease condition; why would a 17-year-old multiparous young lady develop peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM)? Why would a 5-year-old child develop severe anaemia from a mosquito bite? Why would a 25-year-old friend of mine develop chronic kidney disease, and his family would have to sell all their belongings for his treatment? Why are our Accident and Emergency units filled with road traffic accident cases? Was it bad road conditions or lack of adherence to traffic laws and orders?

Why are African countries still battling with 19th century diseases like Tuberculosis, filariasis, and malarial infections? Why issues of fighting cervical cancer and vaccination campaigns are treated with contempt in our societies? Why access to basic primary healthcare in Nigeria was still a luxury 50 years after Alma Ata declaration? The questions are never-ending.

Answers to these questions could be found not in the conventional medical textbooks like Robbins/Cotrand, Davidson, or Sabiston. Answers to these questions are there on our faces. Answers to these questions are tied to the very fabric of our social life, our public institutions, our culture, and our life perspectives.

In order to make any significant contribution towards the betterment of this kind of society, it would be quite easier as an insider rather than an outsider. You can’t bring any positive outcome by just talking or commenting. It was rightly stated that a cat in gloves catches no mice.

The real players in a game are always better than the spectators. A player deserves accolades despite his shortcomings, frequent falls, and inability to deliver as planned theoretically. For the player has seen it all, because so many things in public life are not as they appear. It’s only when you are there that the reality becomes visible. This is the reason why many leaders who have goodwill and enjoy public support appear to have lost track or contributed insignificantly when elected or appointed into office.

But despite all these challenges, one can’t decline to do something good just because something bad might happen. The risk is worth it.

Saifullahi Attahir wrote from Federal University Dutse. He can be reached via; saifullahiattahir93@gmail.com

By Abba Ado

I believe the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation is not a graveyard ministry where no development or policies will bring positive and sustainable achievement to our state or country. I learned that many people think science and technology are not among the portfolios that can contribute immensely to economic development and growth. 

The Ministry is designed to promote education, scientific research, and development at the state and national levels and evaluate their impact on society. Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) play a significant role in addressing issues such as agriculture, sustainability, food security, climate change, healthcare, and education. 

Recently,  Kano State Governor Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf announced his cabinet reshuffle, changing the commissioner for Higher Education to the Ministry for Science and Technology. Some people were mildly upset, while others mocked the commissioner and even underestimated the ministry for political reasons. 

Nigeria has a massive gap in STI policy, and we need to address it to achieve sustainable economic growth. We alsoneed to start relying on technological innovations to solve our existing problems. 

We need an effective policy to help our scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs develop and commercialise their products. With this, we can start exporting our products, and at the same time, our currency will add value.

I hope the newly assigned commissioner for the Ministry for STI will work hard and implement the “Triple Helix” concept, a collaborative model between industries, academia, and government to promote technological innovations and economic growth. As a commissioner, his duties are to facilitate knowledge from the universities to the industries and eventually to progress it to the society for commercialisation. 

Since 1949, China has focused on Science and Technology, and its economic development has been remarkable. The country has implemented effective policies to exploit local innovation and facilitate its commercialisation. 

Domestic companies like Moonlight Communication should not be taken for granted. We urgently need to optimise their efforts, and the government needs to engage heavily and provide strong networking, which can transform our sustainable development. 

Afri Venture Capital is another opportunity to leverage as a commissioner for STI to establish networking and investment; interestingly, this company has launched its funding opportunities in Kano State.  

I advise the newly appointed commissioner to ignore any discouragement from the naysayers who think his assignment to the Ministry for STI has downgraded him. He should focus on providing a suitable platform for huge investment in research and development in our domestic institutions in Kano State and translating this research into a usable product. 

It might not be easy, but it is possible with hard work and perseverance. As an economist who can think critically, I believe he can easily integrate STI with economic development to help Kano State. This new role will undoubtedly contribute to solving the state problems of energy, climate change, agriculture, and healthcare.

Abba Ado wrote via abbaadomusa0@gmail.com.

By Maimuna Katuka Aliyu

When planning to conceive, couples should often focus on what they eat. Although choosing foods based on mood or preference is common, certain dietary considerations become essential when aiming to have a baby.

Doctors frequently recommend specific foods and advise against others to ensure both the mother’s and baby’s health, reducing the risk of complications or miscarriage.

Fertility refers to the ability of couples to conceive. For those trying to have a child, adjusting the diet is crucial in preparing the body for pregnancy. Research suggests that diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and fish can significantly improve fertility, particularly in women.

Moreover, these foods can contribute to a healthy start in pregnancy, which is why doctors generally recommend maintaining a nutritious diet during this period.

Conceiving a baby can take time. While 30% of couples get pregnant in the first month of trying, some may still be trying after a year. Although no diet can resolve underlying medical issues affecting fertility, certain foods can support the reproductive system better than others.

These foods are rich in antioxidants and nutrients that enhance ovulation or improve sperm quality and quantity. Since infertility issues can equally involve male partners, it’s advisable for both partners to adopt a fertility-friendly diet.

Protein-Rich Foods: Lean meats like chicken, turkey, pork, and beef (trimmed of excess fat) are excellent sources of protein, zinc, and iron—vital nutrients for a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, cold-water fish such as salmon, canned light tuna, and sardines are rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids, which support the development of the baby’s nervous system and reduce the risk of premature birth.

Fish can be included in a fertility diet a few times a week without worrying about mercury levels. However, it is best to avoid fish known for higher mercury content, such as shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel.

Fertility-Boosting Foods: While no specific food guarantees pregnancy, ensuring a healthy diet can support fertility. Below are some foods that are beneficial:

– Fruits and Vegetables: Packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants, these are a staple for a fertility-friendly diet.

– Healthy Fats: Incorporating fats from sources like avocados, nuts, and olive oil can improve fertility.

– Complex Carbs: Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread help maintain steady blood sugar levels, which is crucial for reproductive health.

– Eggs: A potent source of protein and choline, eggs are essential for brain development in babies and should be included in a fertility diet.

– Plant Proteins: Beans, nuts, seeds, and tofu are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats. Studies have shown that plant-based proteins can reduce the risk of ovulatory disorders, especially when they make up 5% of your total calorie intake.

– Dairy: Full-fat dairy products like whole milk and yogurt are linked to higher fertility rates, while low-fat dairy options have been associated with an increased risk of ovulatory infertility.

– Walnuts: These nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium, which support brain development and reduce the risk of neurologic problems in the baby.

Lifestyle Factors for Fertility 

– Physical Activity: Regular exercise is beneficial for both male and female fertility, especially for those dealing with obesity. Consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most suitable types of exercise.

– Stress Management: Trying to conceive can be stressful, and stress can affect menstrual cycles and fertility. It may be helpful to talk with a mental health professional if stress or anxiety about conceiving is overwhelming.

Foods to Avoid: A healthy fertility diet isn’t just about what you eat; it’s also about what you avoid. Here are some foods that might negatively impact fertility:

– Added Sugar: Found in sugary beverages, baked goods, and ultra-processed carbs, added sugars can disrupt hormonal balance.

– Red and Processed Meats: These meats, especially those high in saturated fats, can adversely affect fertility.

– Caffeine: Excessive caffeine intake has been linked to fertility issues.

– Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can reduce fertility and should be limited or avoided when trying to conceive.

Incorporating fertility-boosting foods into your diet is a delicious and effective way to support reproductive health and increase your chances of conception. By focusing on nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, and whole grains, couples can create a strong foundation for a healthy pregnancy.

Additionally, staying hydrated, limiting processed foods, and managing stress can contribute to a fertility-friendly lifestyle. While no single food or diet can guarantee pregnancy, making informed dietary choices is a powerful tool in your reproductive journey. Nourish your body, nourish your fertility, and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you!

By Nura Jibo

In March 2020, Thwaites, the world’s biggest and riskiest glacier (moving ice) in Antarctica—bigger than Borno, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Gombe combined—broke away due to climate change warming the water beneath it.

The impact of the meltdown of this moving ice, which raised the sea level by 0.05% in March 2020, caused a catastrophic flood disaster globally that brutally affected towns and villages such as Magarya, Hadejia, Ringim, Dabi, Auyo, Kafin Hausa, Miga, etc.

The Thwaites (moving ice) is already on the verge of total collapse because its outflow speed has doubled in the past 30 years. Every year, it loses 50 billion tons of its body mass into the oceans and eventually inside the rivers and dams (NERC, 2021).

Within ten years (2009 to 2019), the Thwaites’ melting accelerated, making it change direction at a speed greater than 10 kilometres per annum. Its tongue, or rather ice tip, had already lost its integrity via melting, which made it weaker due to the effect of climate change.

In 5-10 years, the rapid melting of the Thwaites would swamp vast areas of troughs and low-lying coastal and drylands around the world, including Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Benue, within a few decades (Jibo et al., 2020; Fred, 2024).

On December 13, 2021, and February 15, 2023, a group of American Geophysical Union and British scientists met at a global conference to discuss this catastrophic climate change disaster in Antarctica that affected the world’s oceans, rivers, and seas very terribly. They concluded that the Thwaites would most likely collapse within the next five years. Their reason is that this glacier “sheds billions of tons of ice into the ocean, contributing about 4% to the annual sea level rise.”.

Indeed, the total collapse of the Thwaites in the next five to ten years is a recipe for a global, unprecedented disaster that could wipe away several cities, towns, and villages, including the Vanuatu Islands and Pacific and African dryland states such as Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Benue, to mention a few.

If the Thwaites collapse and melt completely, the sea level will rise by two feet. This would wipe out several regions and damage several countries worldwide.

Certain islands across the globe, such as the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and the Maldives, would be completely wiped off of the map (Henry, 2023). 

Nonetheless, this isn’t the only thing that would happen if Thwaites collapsed. Changes in ice-shelf flooding would increase an unprecedented flow rate of 120 kilometres of underwater mountains.

As of today, climatologists and meteorologists have envisaged that the melting of this glacier would also likely destabilise the structure of the entire earth’s crust, not only its surrounding glaciers and ice shelves but also causing the global sea level to rise by an additional ten feet. 

Indeed, scientists at the AGU, Yale School of the Environment, and NERC that are conducting a study on Thwaites said that the glacier “is hanging on by its fingernails” and humanity needs to prepare themselves for the coming years (Henry et al., 2023). 

Therefore, as humanity commiserates with the entire people of Maiduguri over the early warning signs of the Thwaites along Nigeria’s drylands, it is very likely that it has already passed a point of no return unless there is drastic intervention. As Fred (2024) asserted elsewhere, “It is too late to prevent its collapse, but others say we could have 200 years. But it certainly could be beyond its tipping point, and we have to be prepared.”

The Thwaites climate change paradox:

It is a scientific fact that a polluted cloud doesn’t rain itself. It tends to grow bigger, and in the end, it bounces sunlight out to space. The effects of fossil fuels and terrible human activities in industries have caused global air pollution and depleted the ozone layer very badly. This singular man-made negative contribution to the planet has caused mankind to make a huge mistake in driving home environmental pax Africana and global environmental regeneration (Jibo, 2024).

Indeed, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Benue will struggle to cope with the torrential rainfall runoff that will engulf the entire River Gongola through the River Benue via Opalo and Imburu, passing through Kiri, Mada, and up to Jigawa along the Bare and Sabara tributaries.

A map obtained from the Google Earth platform has shown some “promise” over this interesting water body mass run-off.

The other three paradoxical impressions given by the Thwaites are as follows:

The shattering of the ice.

Ocean melting.

Losing grip on seamount.

According to Pettit et al. (2021), there are already signs of fractures propagating along weak zones of the Thwaites. This is aggravated by the melting down of the seabed due to warming, and the entire ice could be gone by 2030 or even before that time.

Nura Jibo MRICS has been a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Designated Contact Point (UN-DCP) on Climate Change for 14 years.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rains from Sunday to Tuesday across the country.

According to NiMet’s weather outlook, thunderstorms are expected on Sunday with rains over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe, and Yobe States during the morning hours.

Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over the entire northern region, with rains over the North Central region in the morning hours and moderate thunderstorms with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi states.

The agency also predicted morning thunderstorms on Monday with rains over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba, and Katsina States.

Moderate thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Adamawa, and Katsina States.

Rains are also expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau states during the morning hours.

On Tuesday, morning thunderstorms are predicted with rains over parts of Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba States.

Thunderstorms are expected over the entire northern region later in the day, with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Kwara states with cloudy skies over the remaining states during the morning hours.

NiMet advised the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

The agency also advised residents to avoid flood-prone areas as high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities could occur due to downpours.