On Wednesday August, 26, 2026, the world watched Nepal as glacial collapse sent a wall of water tearing through the Nepal-China border mountain villages, swallowing homes, schools, roads, bridges and hydropower plants and causing significant loss of lives. All these were gone in minutes.

According to reports, the first indication that something was amiss came at 8.37 am local time,when the earth started shaking along the Nepal-China border, north of Kathmandu.

Scientists later established the fact that an enormous chunk of glacier sheared off from high on a mountain.This plunged into the river below. The section of the glacier that fell was approximately 2,000 feet wide.

A Professor of Hydrology at the Imperial College, London, Wouter Buytaert said, “this is the type of event that is triggered by climate change. Global warming strinks glaciers making it more likely for them to break apart.”

So far, more than 1000 people are found dead, 4,267 individuals rescued. As at Tuesday, 1st September, 2026, more than 4,400 people still reported missing and and more than 65,000 people affected in Nepal and Tibet. There are fears that the numbers of dead may still rise exponentially.

That disaster in the Himalayas feels far from the Niger Delta. But climate science tells us it is connected. The ice that melts in the Antarctica, Arctic, Andes, Himalayas,Alaska,Alps,Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya does not stay there. It flows into our oceans, and our oceans decide what happens to the Niger Delta.

For a proper understanding, we need to put this in perspective. What are glaciers?Glaciers and ice sheets are large masses of ice that form when fallen snow is compressed and recrystallised over the course of thousands of years. The two types of glaciers are the continental glaciers and the alpine (mountain)glaciers. The glaciers exist on all the world’s continent except Australia.These glaciers hold about 68-70% of the world’s freshwater. Together, they cover approximately 10 percent of the Earth’s total land mass.

For 10,000 years they were relatively stable. That changed in the 1900s. Since 1990, glaciers have lost over 9 trillion tonnes of ice. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service confirms that global glacier mass loss has accelerated, and 2022-2024 were the 3 largest loss years on record.

All 19 of the world’s major glacier regions reported a net annual loss of ice mass, though, year 2023 set an individual annual record for single-year water loss with glaciers shedding approximately 600 gigatons of water.

In October of 2023, during a visit to the Everest region in Nepal, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres called on the world to “stop the madness” of climate change, warning that the disappearance of glaciers altogether looms even larger.

However, researchers in recent projections show that mountain glaciers will lose one quarter to one half of their mass by 2100 for global temperature change scenarios. A third of glaciers in the World Heritage sites are set to disappear by 2050.

Also, many mountain regions have already witnessed radical glacier loss with many low elevation and small glaciers around the world, including all of Africa’s remaining glaciers at risk of disappearing within this century.

The ice is melting because global temperatures have risen to almost 1.4°C since pre-industrial times. The extra heat turns ice to water. As a result, the gradual disappearance of glaciers contributes to rising sea levels, increased risk of drought in densely populated plains and atmospheric pollution,where ancient greenhouse gases like methane trapped deep beneath the ice are released.

Glaciers in Greenland, Antarctica, Alaska and the Himalayas melt into rivers into the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans.
The meltwater adds volume to the ocean. Thermal expansion of warmer seawater adds more water. Global mean sea level has risen from 21-24cm since 1900, and the rate has doubled since 2006. All this add up to the pressure in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, which over the years has witnessed severe flooding.

The Niger Delta Coast of Nigeria has 853km of coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea.It stretches to a total of nine states including Rivers,Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo. The coastline comprises inshore waters, coastal lagoons, estuaries and mangroves especially in the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta is a low-lying, sediment-based delta. Bonny, Brass, Okrika, Warri and Lagos Island generally sit across low-lying coastal terrain. .

So the meltwater from thousands of kilometers away ends up pushing against the shorelines of the Niger Delta, raising tides, and pushing saltwater into our creeks and groundwater.

The impact of the melting glaciers are enormous on the Niger Delta.The glacier melt may not cause a Himalayan-style flood, but may cause slow, compounding damage.

This is mainly due to the fact that higher sea levels mean king tides which now reach further inland. Communities in Okrika, Nembe, and Lagos Bar Beach already lose land yearly. With 0.5m rise by 2050, 30-50% of the Delta could face annual inundation.

Furthermore, as sea level rises, salt pushes into coastal aquifers and surface water. This is critical for the Niger Delta where people depend on shallow hand-dug wells and boreholes 10-20m deep for drinking water. Salinity ruins drinking water and kills agricultural crops.

Also, it will lead to worsened flooding and extreme rainfall. Climate change makes rains heavier. When high tides meet heavy rain with poor drainage in most Niger Delta communities and urban cities, floodwater has nowhere to go.

The critical impact will be the loss of livelihoods in the area. Fishing and farming in the Niger Delta area depend on brackish water balance. More salt from floods results to fish migration, and also crop failure.

The massive inflow of water may lead to Infrastructural damage: roads, refineries, industries and businesses at the coastal line are affected, while repeated flooding corrodes and disrupts production.

With the continuous melting of the glaciers, the next five years and beyond for people of the Niger Delta region is ominous.

By 2031, scientists evisage more “nuisance flooding” during high tide with 10-15cm additional sea level rise globally. And by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects 0.28-0.55m sea level rise even if countries cut down on emissions. This will translate to more flooding and moderate coastal flooding will happen 10 times more often than it does today.

High tide will routinely flood coastal streets, damaging local infrastructure and threatens fresh water supplies. For the Niger Delta, that means displacement of communities and billions in damage.

What is worse? By 2100, if emissions continue, 1-2m sea rise is possible and this will make parts of the Niger Delta to become uninhabitable, if there are no massive defenses put in place.

While the rest of the world are preparing to abate disasters, the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole seem to be asleep to the reality that is beckoning.

The rest of the world are developing early warning systems for disasters, community evacuation drills and placements.

The UN 2025 report shows that 119 countries are now covered by a multi- Hazard Early Warning System. Launched in 2022 by United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Early Warning for All is a ground breaking initiative to ensure that every one on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through life saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.

In the Netherlands the government used a technique known as Delta Works. They have built a country below sea level. The Delta Works is a massive network of dams, slluices, locks and storm surge barriers built to protect the Southern part of the Netherlands from catastrophic flooding after the 1953 floods.

The Dutch also use a system to strategically open and close dams that redirect massive volumes of river water to flush salt water back into the North Sea.

The United Nations (UN) and IPCC have begun the Global Stocktake-monitoring and inventory of climate issues of countries. There is the Loss and Damage Fund under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed at the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai 2023 to help vulnerable developing countries facing climate-induced impacts.

It is important to commend the African Union for the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy which it is delivering on African goal for inclusive and sustainable development. Aslo, the Great Green Wall project to combat land degradation, desertification and climate change across the Sahel region. They must find a way to bridge the funding gap for the projects, which is huge.

Nigeria has to wake up from its deep slumber on these issues. What Is The solution?
If we cannot build Dutch sea walls tomorrow, we can do “smart adaptation”.

Research is key in this direction. Research institutes and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) must monitor sea levels, salinity in boreholes, and map vulnerable communities.You cannot adapt what you do not measure.

We must return to nature-based solutions, such as restoration of mangroves in the Niger Delta. Thick mangrove forests act as natural wall against storms, hurricanes and rising sea levels One hectare of mangrove absorbs waves better than concrete and costs less. It also stores carbon.

Another solution is Water Safety,thereby investing in rainwater harvesting, deeper boreholes >40m above saltwater intrusion, and household water treatment for communities. This tackles Sustainable Development Goal 6.

We must adopt early warning. SMS flood alerts for communities like what Nepal is doing. Recently, the Federal Government of Nigeria issued alerts that over 2000 communities would face flood risk across 30 states. Seven states were identified as critical hot-spots.

In a statement, the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Mr. Usman Bokani said Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kogi, Benue, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states could be critical areas during the forecast period. Also, Adamawa, Kwara,Taraba and Kebbi states had been categorised as high risk locations. Some communities in Borno, the FCT, Plateau, Nasarawa and Yobe states are expected to experience moderate flooding during this period. This is a good start.

Nigerian government must do all it takes to access funds in the area of foreign policy and finance and use it appropriately. Government should access the United Nations Loss and Damage Fund. Also, integrate climate into the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Masterplan and push for “polluter pays” from oil companies to fund adaptation.

Communities ought to be involved in this through information and education. Let them be enlightened about the consequences of their actions that lead to climate change. Government must mobilze communities in this regard. Climate adaptation works when people own it.

In conclusion, it is important to stress that
the ice in Greenland and the water in the Niger Delta are linked by one ocean. Nepal’s glacier burst was a warning. Our warning may be slower, salt in our wells, water in our streets, people moving from their ancestral homes, and more.

But we still have time. If Nigeria invests now in monitoring, growing mangroves, and community resilience, we can reduce the damage. Climate change is global. The response must be local.

By: Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo

Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Obi of Onitsha,His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe, are among dignitaries expected at the coronation of the sixth Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, Charles Douglas MacPepple-Jaja next month.

This follows a visit by the Amanyanabo-elect and Opobo Council of Alapu to the ex-President Jonathan’s residence in  Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

King MacPepple-Jaja became Amanyanabo-elect following the death of King Dandeson Douglas Jaja.

The former president while describing Opobo as a historic kingdom, said its monarch had made significant contributions to Nigeria’s history.

“Opobo Kingdom is a place with history, and this visit is a big honour,” Jonathan said.

Confirming his attendance at the coronation,  Jonathan said “We will come to honour you back.”

The former President congratulated the Amanyanabo-elect and acknowledged the importance of the Opobo throne to the history of the Niger Delta.

On his part, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja said the visit was intended to rub minds on issues of common interest in the region and to formally invite the former President, a foremost ijaw son and Nigerian leader to the coronation.

“We cannot coronate an Opobo monarch without coming to see you,” King Charles told Jonathan.

The Opobo monarch and his delegation had earlier visited the Obi Of Onitsha at his palace in Onitsha, Anambra State during which they intimated the monarch of the forthcoming coronation.

The Obi of Onitsha who received the Opobo delegation recalled old ties between the two kingdoms, saying both were key trade allies in the 19th centuries.

Achebe assured King Jaja VI of his presence to witness the coronation next month.

The coronation was scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 26.

The Tide reports that Opobo monarchy was established by King Jaja of Opobo, who became a major political and commercial authority in the 19th Niger Delta.

Following the Bonny civil conflict of the late 1860s, Jaja and his compatriots established Opobo as an independent political and commercial centre, developing a trading network and exercising significant influence over the palm-oil trade between the Niger Delta hinterland and the Atlantic coast.

Britain then entered into a commercial treaty with Jaja in 1873, formally recognising him as King of Opobo.

Jaja later clashed with British commercial and imperial interests and was arrested and exiled in 1887, an episode that remains part of the history of colonial relations in the Niger Delta.

Other dignitaries expected at the coronation include traditional rulers, political leaders, members of the diplomatic community, business leaders and Opobo indigenes from Nigeria and abroad.

 By: Kevin Nengia

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has charged students of Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa Polytechnic (Kenpoly) not to see themselves as jobs seekers but as job creators.

The governor, who is the Visitor to the Polytechnic, urged the students to embrace technical and vocational education in their various careers.

Fubara gave the charge at the 25th to 32nd Convocation Ceremony of the polytechnic in Bori at the weekend.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, the governor urged the students and graduands to strive towards becoming employers of labour with their skills.

According to him, “Technical and vocational skills rules the world.”

He commended the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr George Chile Wadike, and his management for the successful hosting of the convocation ceremony, advising the graduands to be good ambassadors of the polytechnic.

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Friday Barikpe Sigalo, appealed to the Rivers State Government to upgrade the polytechnic to a degree-awarding institution.

The Chairman said upgrading Kenpoly to a degree awarding institution would significantly enhance access to university education by ambitious populace in the zone and region.

According to him, such will reduce education migration, promote regional equity and stimulate socio-economic development in the South East Senatorial zone of the country.

Sigalo thanked the governor for his unprecedented support which helped the institution to overcome various challenges.

He advised the graduands, not to “throw away the skills and knowledge acquired during your training in the Polytechnic, but continue to innovate and develop additional skills to meet up with the competition that prevail on our contemporary society so that your training can add value to your life, family and the society.”

Also speaking, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr George Chile Wadike, disclosed that a total of 24,842 graduands passed out in eight session from 2017/ 2018 to 2024/2025.

The Rector who gave a statistical breakdown of the figure said 11,643 students had National Diploma while 13,208 graduates had  Higher National Diploma.

He said the figures represent thousands of individual stories of perseverance, parental sacrifice, academic commitment and institutional efforts.

The Rector appealed to governor to approve the recruitment of new staff to fill critical academic and non academic vacancies in the newly accredited programmes in the polytechnic.

The Rector als appealed for the approval and release of funds for the construction of hostels for students and administrative offices, official vehicles for principal officers and approval and release of our dues which has been withheld before his administration came onboard in 2023.

He also called for the state government’s intervention in the areas of power supply, improved infrastructures and security of lives and property in the institution.

On his achievements, Wadike said all the four new Higher National Diploma programmes presented for resource verification by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) were approved for 2026/ academic session 2027.

He also said the Polytechnic had taken steps towards resolving the challenges associated with graduates mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He charged the students and graduands “to be disciplined in their conduct, be honest in your dealing, be innovative in solving problems and be willing to learn new skills.

“The world you are entering will demand adaptability, technologies will change, industries will evolve, some professions will be transformed by artificial intelligence and automation, your capacity to remain relevant will depend on your willingness to continue learning and developing new competencies.”

Highlights of the ceremony was the awards of fellowship to friends of the Polytechnic.

Dignitaries at the event include Commissioner for Education, Peter Wago, traditional rulers, clergies and friends of the Polytechnic.