AS OUR RIVERS BEGIN TO RUN DRY.
WHEN OUR RIVERS BEGIN TO RUN DRY.
We used to hear about Global Warming and Green House effect. I hear it less these days. Maybe I no longer turn on my Radio or Television, or maybe the consciousness has waned.
Maybe we have been forewarned us enough. We don't need to hear about Global warming on the news anymore now. Because we can see its effect all around us.
Within the last three years or there about, we have noticed that the cycle of our seasons seem to have become irregular. We do not know when to call rainy season anymore. We have not really seen the (almost) everyday rain that used to characterize rainy season. The everyday downpour begins when ordinarily rain should be going and it does not last long and rain stops entirely (for the season).
The 'late harmattan' is plain for us to see. Maybe it is just starting. It is not as heavy as the 'normal harmattan' we used to know. Because normally, no padding of clothing entirely keeps the cold away. No coating of Vaseline gel can keep your lips or skin from cracking. This Christmas, we barely felt any harmattan. Harmattan usually coincides with Christmas. The air of harmattan used to bring the smell of Christmas. We are grateful now that we are experiencing this minimal harmattan. Maybe the dry air would intensify,maybe. Let us continue to watch.
Unfortunately, global warming has greater implication than irregular seasons. Irregular seasons alone should stir up alot of concern. If we are still in harmattan season, when then should we expect the rain? How long would the late harmattan last? And it seems the rainfall is becoming sparse and little, do we get enough rainfall to sustain a farming season? When will the planting season begin? How much yield should we expect with so little rain? Would our water table not go dangerously low before the rain would come? How prepared are we for food shortages that accompanies water shortage? Or the outbreak of diseases and infections that comes with poor sanitary conditions brought on by shortage of water supply.
Our rivers and streams are drying up. I remember when we used to fetch water from streams. The whole village was dependent on maybe two or three streams for her water supply. And those little water body satisfied all our water needs. Some of those streams have dried up now. It may even be difficult for one to believe that water once used to flow there. The streams that are yet to dry up are now so scanty and polluted that the water it holds cannot serve any real purpose.
Our rivers are not left out. I remember driving through a bridge recently and I recalled passing through that bridge like 10 years ago. The water used to be so lush that it seemed the water was drawing you in. The heavy current would make you fear marine water spirits. But now those rivers barely hold water any more. Riversides have now been reduced to car wash spots. Sadly, some do not even hold enough water for them to be used as car washing spots.
We are in serious trouble and we don't know it. They say World War III would be fought over the control for scarce water resources. An international report projects that by 2030, the global demand for water will exceed the global supply of water by an astonishing 40%. 2030 is just 13 years away. The water crisis is already upon us. For those that have boreholes, they now need to pump water early in the morning when the water level is relatively up. Because if you try pumping later in the day, the tank may not get filled after hours of pumping. This would get worse in years to come. It is a global problem, so running to London will not save anyone.
It is frightening to realize that we may be the last generation of humans to have enough clean water to throw around.
And in our Nigeria, all our attention is centered on politics. In our society today, everybody wants to be a politician, celebrity or millionaire. No much effort is invested into education and research. We believe that being a Doctor is the best use we can commit our best brains into. When we have other professions their practical knowledge can literally save the world.
Countries with foresight are already working on mapping out an intervention plan for the coming water crisis. But here in Nigeria, we are simply oblivious of it. 
We used to hear about Global Warming and Green House effect. I hear it less these days. Maybe I no longer turn on my Radio or Television, or maybe the consciousness has waned.
Maybe we have been forewarned us enough. We don't need to hear about Global warming on the news anymore now. Because we can see its effect all around us.
Within the last three years or there about, we have noticed that the cycle of our seasons seem to have become irregular. We do not know when to call rainy season anymore. We have not really seen the (almost) everyday rain that used to characterize rainy season. The everyday downpour begins when ordinarily rain should be going and it does not last long and rain stops entirely (for the season).
The 'late harmattan' is plain for us to see. Maybe it is just starting. It is not as heavy as the 'normal harmattan' we used to know. Because normally, no padding of clothing entirely keeps the cold away. No coating of Vaseline gel can keep your lips or skin from cracking. This Christmas, we barely felt any harmattan. Harmattan usually coincides with Christmas. The air of harmattan used to bring the smell of Christmas. We are grateful now that we are experiencing this minimal harmattan. Maybe the dry air would intensify,maybe. Let us continue to watch.
Unfortunately, global warming has greater implication than irregular seasons. Irregular seasons alone should stir up alot of concern. If we are still in harmattan season, when then should we expect the rain? How long would the late harmattan last? And it seems the rainfall is becoming sparse and little, do we get enough rainfall to sustain a farming season? When will the planting season begin? How much yield should we expect with so little rain? Would our water table not go dangerously low before the rain would come? How prepared are we for food shortages that accompanies water shortage? Or the outbreak of diseases and infections that comes with poor sanitary conditions brought on by shortage of water supply.
Our rivers and streams are drying up. I remember when we used to fetch water from streams. The whole village was dependent on maybe two or three streams for her water supply. And those little water body satisfied all our water needs. Some of those streams have dried up now. It may even be difficult for one to believe that water once used to flow there. The streams that are yet to dry up are now so scanty and polluted that the water it holds cannot serve any real purpose.
Our rivers are not left out. I remember driving through a bridge recently and I recalled passing through that bridge like 10 years ago. The water used to be so lush that it seemed the water was drawing you in. The heavy current would make you fear marine water spirits. But now those rivers barely hold water any more. Riversides have now been reduced to car wash spots. Sadly, some do not even hold enough water for them to be used as car washing spots.
We are in serious trouble and we don't know it. They say World War III would be fought over the control for scarce water resources. An international report projects that by 2030, the global demand for water will exceed the global supply of water by an astonishing 40%. 2030 is just 13 years away. The water crisis is already upon us. For those that have boreholes, they now need to pump water early in the morning when the water level is relatively up. Because if you try pumping later in the day, the tank may not get filled after hours of pumping. This would get worse in years to come. It is a global problem, so running to London will not save anyone.
It is frightening to realize that we may be the last generation of humans to have enough clean water to throw around.
And in our Nigeria, all our attention is centered on politics. In our society today, everybody wants to be a politician, celebrity or millionaire. No much effort is invested into education and research. We believe that being a Doctor is the best use we can commit our best brains into. When we have other professions their practical knowledge can literally save the world.
Countries with foresight are already working on mapping out an intervention plan for the coming water crisis. But here in Nigeria, we are simply oblivious of it.
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