Headline

10 Ways To Stay Safe During Flooding Emergencies

Published

5 months ago

February 23, 2024

In recent times, heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding have become all too common across states in the country.

This has over time posed significant risks to communities in many states of the country.

Apart from the risk of loss of lives and properties, floods have the potential to elevate the spread of water vector-borne illnesses like typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever, among various others.

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that flooding causes more deaths annually than any other thunderstorm-related hazard.

On Tuesday, there was a heavy downpour in several states in Nigeria including Lagos, Oyo and Ogun.

The heavy downpour caused serious flooding leaving many residents and motorists stranded.

The rain which started around 2 am and 5 am in some areas and spread across the states lasted till a few minutes before 10 am in Lagos and parts of Ogun state on Tuesday leaving roads flooded.

In 2022, flooding affected 33 out of the 36 states in addition to parts of the Federal Capital Territory, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.

According to official data, the floods resulted in 612 fatalities, over 2,400 injuries, and displacement of 1.4 million individuals. Furthermore, the floods caused extensive damage to communities, agricultural lands, and transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Approximately 200,000 residences suffered damage, with 332,327 hectares of land affected by the disaster.

As we are faced with the difficulties posed by increasing water levels, it’s essential to equip ourselves with information on how to ensure safety when dealing with floods.

Below are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones during flooding emergencies:

1. Stay Informed: Always take note of weather forecasts and flood warnings issued by local authorities to anticipate potential risks and take necessary precautions.

2. Exercise caution: Study your surroundings and adhere to safety protocols before navigating through floods. It can be difficult to distinguish between roads and drainage in flooded areas.

3. Avoid walking, swimming, and driving through flooded areas: It is best to stay away from flooded roads. This is crucial for safety because flooded areas can hide dangers such as submerged objects, open manholes, or swift currents, which can pose serious risks to pedestrians and drivers.

Walking, swimming, or driving through flooded areas increases the likelihood of accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. Therefore, it’s advisable to find alternative routes or wait until floodwaters recede before venturing into these areas.

4. Avoid construction of houses and other structures on waterways: Waterways are natural or artificial channels where water flows, such as rivers, streams, or drainage systems. Constructing buildings or structures in these areas can lead to various negative consequences.

Avoiding construction on waterways is essential for mitigating the risks associated with flooding, erosion, environmental degradation, and safety concerns as it helps to protect both property and lives.

It also ensures sustainable development practices that respect the natural flow and balance of water systems.

5. Turn off electrical appliances at home: Ensure to turn off all electrical appliances in your home, especially as water is a major conductor of electricity. This means there is a higher risk of electric shock or electrocution in flooded areas. areas with flash floods.

6. Pay attention to the weather to plan your movement during the day: Be mindful of weather forecasts and conditions to make informed decisions about activities and travel throughout the day

7. Ensure an adequate stock of provisions: It is crucial to secure sufficient supplies for survival. Basic food items and clean water are essential to ward off hunger and maintain hygiene amidst prolonged flooding.

8. Leave areas subject to flooding. You can move in with relatives who live away from areas prone to flooding.

9. Avoid drinking untreated water: Floodwaters typically harbour various contaminants, including fecal matter, chemicals, and debris. Drinking such water poses a significant risk of diarrhoea illnesses, dehydration, and potentially fatal consequences.

10. Use waterproof containers: Use containers that are designed to prevent water from entering or damaging your valuables.

Headline

Barack Obama, Wife Endorse Kamala Harris For US President

Published

7 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Editor

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have endorsed Kamala Harris’ bid for Presidency.

In a one-minute long video that captured a private phone call between the couple and the Vice President, Harris expressed gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship.

“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama told Harris.

“I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady told Harris.

“Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend Kamala Harris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support,” Obama said on social media platform X.

Responding, Harris said: “Thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too”.

Obama, the first U.S Black president, remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic party even after more than a decade has passed since he was last elected.

Harris is making plans to name a running mate by Aug. 7.

Advisers to former President Donald J. Trump said they would not commit to another debate, one they had already agreed to participate in, now that the Democrats have changed candidates from President Biden to Vice President Harris.

Headline

33 Nigerian Students Receive $2.92m Scholarships From American Universities, Colleges

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

33 high achieving Nigerian students have received full scholarships totaling $2.92 million to attend American universities and colleges for the 2024/2025 academic session.

This feat was made possible through the Opportunity Funds Program of the United States Consulate General Lagos that is designed to increase access to U.S. higher education institutions for highly qualified international students who have limited resources to cover upfront costs of attending a university in the United States.

Delivering remarks at a reception in Lagos in honor of the U.S. bound students, Consul General Will Stevens congratulated the scholars on their admission to several outstanding U.S. universities to pursue studies in a diverse range of disciplines.

He urged them to take advantage of the opportunities American universities have to offer and become actively involved in the many organizations and clubs that will enrich their experience as international students.

“This Fall, you will join the over 17,000 Nigerian students studying in the United States. You have successfully navigated the daunting U.S. college and university admissions process and we are so excited for your future. You have excelled in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that you will continue that path of academic excellence,” Consul General Stevens told the departing students.

One of the scholars, Chigozie Paul Odo, received full funding for a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of South Carolina. His doctoral research will focus on immuno-therapy with the goal of contributing to lasting solutions to the treatment of cancer.

Odo, who lost his father and sole breadwinner for his family during his second year at university, expressed appreciation to the U.S. government for covering the upfront costs of applying to U.S. universities through the Opportunity Funds Program.

“My dream of studying in the United States which seemed impossible is now a reality,” he added.

The 33 departing students — 10 undergraduate and 23 graduate students —will be studying a variety of subjects including biomedical engineering; computer science; mechanical engineering; earth and planetary sciences; organic and medicinal chemistry; civil, construction, & environmental engineering; among others.

Following a very rigorous selection process, the successful students received financial aid that covered expenses involved in the college application process such as standardized tests, application fees, U.S. visa and SEVIS fees as well as air travel to the United States. EducationUSA advisers worked closely with the students through regularly scheduled meetings, seminars and bootcamps, to support them throughout the application process.

Now in its 20th year, the Opportunity Funds Program underscores the importance of educational exchange and the positive impact it has on fostering mutual understanding and strengthening ties between the two nations.

Headline

Meta Deletes 63,000 Accounts In ‘Yahoo Boys’ Crackdown

Published

2 days ago

July 24, 2024

Editor

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has removed 63,000 accounts associated with the notorious “Yahoo Boys” scam group, the company announced in its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report on Wednesday.

The accounts, deleted over the past few weeks, were used for financial sextortion scams and distributing blackmail scripts. Meta reported that a smaller network of 2,500 accounts, linked to around 20 individuals, primarily targeted adult men in the United States using fake identities.

Meta said it identified and disabled these accounts through a combination of advanced technical signals and comprehensive investigations, enhancing its automated detection systems.

“Financial sextortion is a borderless crime, fueled in recent years by the increased activity of Yahoo Boys, loosely organised cybercriminals operating largely out of Nigeria that specialize in different types of scams,” the social media giant stated.

It added, “We’ve removed around 63,000 accounts in Nigeria attempting to target people with financial sextortion scams, including a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts.”

“We’ve also removed a set of Facebook accounts, Pages, and groups run by Yahoo Boys—banned under our Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy—that were attempting to organize, recruit and train new scammers,” the company explained.

During the investigation, Meta said it found that most scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful, though some had targeted minors. These cases were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Meta revealed that it also shared information with other tech companies via the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program to help curb these scams across platforms.

Further, the parent company of Facebook said it removed around 7,200 assets in Nigeria, including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups that were providing scam-related resources.

These assets were found offering scripts and guides for scams and sharing links to collections of photos for creating fake accounts, it expounded.

Since this disruption, Meta’s systems have been actively blocking attempts from these groups to return, continually improving their detection capabilities.

The company noted that it has also been working closely with law enforcement, supporting investigations and prosecutions by responding to legal requests and alerting authorities to imminent threats.

The social media giant stated that its efforts extend beyond account removal.

“We also fund and support NCMEC and the International Justice Mission to run Project Boost, a program that trains law enforcement agencies around the world in processing and acting on NCMEC reports.

“We’ve conducted several training sessions so far, including in Nigeria and the Cote d’Ivoire, with our most recent session taking place just last month,” the firm revealed.

To protect users, especially teens, Meta disclosed that it has implemented stricter messaging settings for users under 16 (under 18 in certain countries) and displays safety notices to encourage cautious behaviour online.

Last week, Meta was fined $220m by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for multiple violations of data protection laws linked to WhatsApp.

The investigation, initiated in May 2021, found that Meta’s privacy policies infringed on users’ rights, including unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices.

Meta plans to appeal the decision, arguing that it disagrees with the findings and the imposed penalty. The FCCPC aims to ensure fair treatment of Nigerian users and compliance with local regulations.