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Mangrove Forests: Nature’s Coastal Guardians (PHOTOS)

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3 months ago

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Mangrove forests—found in 123 countries and territories, mostly between 30° N and 30° S latitude—form one of Earth’s most remarkable and vital ecosystems. These unique coastal woodlands thrive where land meets sea, creating a living buffer between terrestrial and marine environments. Their most striking feature is the maze of specialized roots that rise from brackish waters: a natural engineering feat that allows mangrove trees to flourish in saline, waterlogged soils where most plants cannot survive.

Ingenious Root Adaptations

Mangroves display a variety of root structures, each with a specific function. Stilt or prop roots, which arch above the water, anchor the trees in shifting, muddy substrates. Pneumatophores, also called “breathing roots,” protrude vertically from the soil like snorkels to draw in oxygen in oxygen-poor mud.

Some species also form buttress roots, providing extra stability in soft, tidal soils. Together, these adaptations prevent the trees from toppling and enable them to withstand fluctuating tides and strong coastal winds.

Coastal Protection and Biodiversity

These root systems act as natural breakwaters, slowing wave action and reducing the impact of storm surges. By stabilizing sediments, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion and help shield coastal communities from flooding and cyclones. Beneath the dense canopy and among the tangled roots, countless organisms find sanctuary. Juvenile fish, crabs, mollusks, and shrimp use the submerged roots as nursery grounds, while birds, reptiles, and small mammals thrive in the shaded canopy. The result is an ecosystem of extraordinary biodiversity that links terrestrial and marine food webs.

Climate Champions

Mangroves are among the planet’s most powerful natural carbon sinks. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, 2022), they store up to four times more carbon per hectare than most tropical rainforests, locking it away in their biomass and in the deep, waterlogged soils beneath them.

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This “blue carbon” capacity makes mangroves critical allies in the global fight against climate change, both by sequestering atmospheric carbon and by buffering the impacts of rising seas.

Threats and Conservation

Despite their ecological importance, mangroves are disappearing at an alarming rate. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that around one million hectares of mangrove forest were lost between 2000 and 2020, primarily due to coastal development, aquaculture, and unsustainable logging.

While many countries—including Nigeria with its vast Niger Delta mangroves and Indonesia with the world’s largest mangrove expanse—are investing in replanting programs and stricter environmental policies, global losses still outpace restoration efforts. Preserving these ecosystems is not only an environmental necessity but also a safeguard for the millions of people who depend on mangroves for food, livelihoods, and coastal protection.

A Call to Protect Nature’s Guardians

Safeguarding mangrove forests is an investment in resilience, biodiversity, and climate stability. Their roots hold coastlines together, their canopies shelter countless species, and their soils quietly capture vast amounts of carbon. Protecting and restoring these coastal forests is therefore a crucial strategy for both environmental stewardship and human survival.

Sources
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The World’s Mangroves 2000–2020, 2020.

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Declare Your Lineage – Royal Family Tells Musician KWAM 1 Over His Interest In Becoming Next Awujale Of Ijebuland

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14 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, next in line to produce the new Awujale of Ijebuland, Ogun State, has instructed Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to confirm his family’s royal lineage to validate his membership in the ruling house.

KWAM 1, in a letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Agunsebi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, announced his interest in the stool, describing himself as a “bonafide son” of the ruling house.

KWAM 1 also stated that his candidacy aligns with Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws.

In an interview with Punch, the Chairman of the ruling house and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abdulateef Owoyemi, said only bonafide members of the family would be allowed to participate in the selection process.

Owoyemi explained that KWAM 1, Olori Omooba of Ijebu land and others interested in the stool have been directed to complete the Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form.

According to him, the form, which requires contenders to trace their genealogy back seven generations, ensures that only genuine princes from the family can participate, thereby blocking “strangers” from claiming the throne.

He said, “The first step for anyone interested in contesting for the Awujale throne is to declare their lineage by filling the standard Fusengbuwa ruling house royal lineage data form. Once confirmed as a legitimate member of the ruling house, they can then apply for the expression of interest form.

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“We have told him, just like everyone else interested in the Awujale throne, that the first step is to declare his lineage. He will do this by completing the royal lineage data form, showing his full name, which parent and grandparent he descends from, and continuing up to seven generations.

“The completed form will be signed and submitted to the head of the ruling house unit of the Fusengbuwa ruling house, who will affirm that he is a genuine member. Only then will the process move forward.”

Owoyemi emphasised that although the application window for the throne officially closed on December 5, KWAM 1 had been given a five-day extension, which would lapse on December 10.

He noted, “We won’t shut anybody out of picking the next Awujale, but we must ensure that you are a legitimate member of Fusengbuwa. Every right comes with responsibilities. For a royal family, everyone must prove their legitimacy by completing the royal lineage data form.

“When we receive the form, we will review it meticulously. If clarification is needed, we will contact the applicant. We welcome men of influence who will use their influence to enhance the throne, not to claim it, ensuring that what truly belongs to our family is preserved.”

Owoyemi explained that the local government has given them 14 days to select candidates, and the ruling house hopes to have a new Awujale by the second or third week of January 2026.

He added, “The local government has given us 14 days to select candidates, which expires on December 18. After that, the kingmakers have seven days to deliberate and choose one candidate, whose name will be forwarded to the governor.

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“Legally, the government then has 21 days to conduct background checks and security clearance, allowing for objections or protests. After this period, the State Executive Council will ratify the nominee, and the governor will announce the next Awujale, after which coronation rites will commence.

“So, combining the candidate selection, kingmakers’ deliberation, and legal objection period, we are looking at around 42 days. Therefore, we expect the next Awujale to emerge between the second and third week of January.”

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VIDEO: I’m Married But Not In My Husband’s House; I Didn’t Have The Experience Of Living Happily Ever After – Singer Shola Allyson Reveals

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17 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sola Allyson, the popular Nigerian gospel singer, has revealed that she is not currently living with her husband.

The musician made this known in her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV.

While speaking about her love life, the 54-year-old who came into limelight with a love album ‘Eji Owuro’, revealed that she is married but not living with her husband.

Sharing her marital experience, the singer said she has never enjoyed the kind of happiness many people describe.

“I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We live separately. He in his house and I in mine.”

The interviewer asked: “You sang ‘Eji Owuro’, did you experience genuine love from your husband?

She replied, “We lied before. Those older than us didn’t inform us that it’s tough. They made us believe that so long as you both love each other, you will live happily ever after, but it’s a lie.

“That’s not the experience I have. I didn’t have the experience of living happily ever after. I did all I could to make it work.

“Marriage has been a big challenge. I hear people talk about joy in marriage, but I have never experienced it.”

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VIDEO: Shola Allyson Finally Opens Up, Reveals Why She Does Not Reference Jesus In Her Songs

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18 hours ago

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December 7, 2025

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Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Shola Allyson, the renowned Nigerian songstress, has opened up on the real reason she avoids mentioning the name of Jesus in all her songs.

Recall that Allyson, who is regarded as a gospel singer, was dragged on social media in March 2025 for not directly referencing ‘Jesus’ in all her songs.

Reacting to her critics in a post on X, the songstress stated that “No one can bully me into joining their darkness that looks like light because indolent souls find comfort in it”.

Finally revealing her reason for not mentioning Jesus in her songs, Shola Allyson on Saturday during her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV, stated that Jesus did not ask her to do PR for him.

She said “I’m not a religious singer. As I am, I have never introduced myself as a gospel singer. My name is Shola Allyson. I’m a singer”.

Interviewer; “Some people said you don’t mention ‘Jesus’ name’ in all your songs”.

She quickly responded “Jesus did not instruct us to mention his name in songs nor did Jesus ask us to do PR for Him”.

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