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In the past few weeks, the harmattan haze has been blowing and biting really hard across the country. Almost everyone admits that it is so cold and the intensity is extra-ordinarily high compared with the experience last year and beyond. In this report, Yetunde Oladeinde, Assistant Editor (Lagos), Kolade Adeyemi (Kano), Yusufu Aminu Idegu (Jos), Chris Orji (Enugu), Nwanosike Onu (Anambra), Odunayo Ogunmola (Ekiti) and Oseheye Okwuofu (Ibadan) take a look at its impact across the country and how Nigerians are coping.

The harmattan season, for many, is expected at the tail end of every year and it is known to usher in the new year. Many Lagosians, therefore, begin to take a number of measures to protect their eyes from dust particles and the skin and soles of the feet from peeling, and lips from cracking as soon as it breezes in.

Surprisingly, this year’s experience is different, tougher and lasting longer than any recent memory. Extra measures are therefore being taken to combat it, while it translates into an opportunity for those who deal in items required to combat it to make more money. 68-year-old Fatima Ajani did not mince words when she declared that she is hardest hit by the harmattan in Lagos.”I come out briefly in the afternoon because I am asthmatic and the dust is not good for my health at all. I have cold and I have been sneezing ever since it started.”

Excessive sneezing, cough and catarrh are some of the symptoms that result from impact of this cold dry dusty wind peculiar to the West African sub-region. Unfortunately, the season is not a very good one for people suffering from respiratory conditions like asthma, as the cold, dusty weather tends to aggravate it.

Notably, the Meningitis epidemic, usually experienced between February and May in the northern part of Nigeria is an aftermath of the harmattan.

It also triggers sickle cell crisis in those who suffer from the disease. There is also an increase in the incidences of diarrhoea and food-borne illnesses, due to the dust that settle on foods not properly stored or washed before consumption.

The rapid change in weather condition came as a surprise to Nigerians all over the country because it has not been like this in a long while. Residents of Ibadan city and environs have been groaning over the harsh weather and they have been devising ways to cope with the season.

Like in other parts of the country, many people are forced to wear two to three clothes, in addition to thick pullovers to combat the weather. In some schools in Ibadan, proprietors say they are considering the possibility of adjusting the school time-table because the morning sessions are less participatory at the moment.

Mr. Gbenga Ajayi, proprietor, Genius Model School, Omi-Adio, Ibadan, complained over the attitude of the pupils in the classes, while stating that school attendance has dropped significantly as some of the children who have health challenges cannot brave the harsh cold weather.

“This is a very unusually cold weather and we are considering changing the school from morning to day school because of the children. But we must first of all get the consent of the parents. I don’t think we have witnessed this kind of weather in recent time. It’s very different,” Mr Ajayi said.

Investigations also revealed that the poor weather condition has resulted in increase in respiratory diseases among children and old persons. “As I am speaking to you now, I have my own burden; I could not sleep in the night because of cold, fever and body pains. And this is exactly what many people are complaining about. But we hope it will not last beyond necessary because it would mean a different thing for the health of the people,” Alfred Banjo a retired civil servant and resident of Ibadan said.

An expert in climate matters and lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Dr Ibidun Adelekan, however, described the weather change as normal, and attributed it to growing climate change.

The climatologist also noted that there are many benefits of the harmattan season, as harsh as it appears. She said many farmers would be happy with the weather condition because of the increased benefits derived from it.

She listed some of the negative impacts to include poor visibility that hinders air transportation, and increase in respiratory diseases among the populace.

Explaining the factors responsible for the intensity of the weather condition, Dr Adelekan said: “We have the north east wind from the Sahara and it is usually very cold. So, now the wind from the Sahara is over Ibadan and that is what has brought the harmattan now. The second factor is that at this time of the year, we don’t have clouds. So, because we don’t have clouds, the radiation or energy has been able to escape rapidly into the space especially at night; unlike when we have clouds during other times of the year. Because this radiation is escaping into the space, it is usually cold at night and early hours of the morning.”

Continuing, she said, “The third factor is the pressure over the Sahara, and because the high pressure is there, the inter-tropical discontinuity, the ICD, will not be able to lift it away. Currently, that is the boundary zone between the north east wind coming from the Sahara and south west wind coming from the Atlantic Ocean. The ICD at this time is around the coast. So the wind is over Ibadan at this time.

“What determines the movement of the ICD is the high pressure. As long as you have a region of high pressure over the Sahara, the ICD will tilt downward and that is what determines the intensity of the harmattan now. But once the high pressure reaches over the Sahara, the ICD will now move up so that we don’t have cold wind over Ibadan or this part of the country.”

In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the situation is no different. The change in weather has altered the way of life of residents of the state capital and surrounding towns and villages, who have been devising various means to suppress the effects of the harmattan. Many residents now wake up later than they used to because the effect is felt more in the early hours of the day. Those who are self-employed are in the majority of this category, as they are seen to have control over their time.

Core civil servants, school teachers, uniformed personnel, health workers however have no option but to defy the harsh weather and go to work.

The Nation also gathered that families now ensure that they have enough hot water at home with which they take their bath every morning before setting out for the day’s activities.

A resident, Mrs. Bola Ogidan, said: “My children and I now monitor supply of power everyday in order to heat water for bathing. You know electricity is not regular in Ado-Ekiti and its environs, so we always wake up in the night anytime power is restored to heat water. This has become our practice since harmattan commenced because none of us can afford to bathe with cold water.”

Wearing cardigans has also become a compulsory norm for school pupils and students going to school.

Some parents have also gone ahead to make arrangements with their children’s schools authorities to converge their wards at ‘safer’ places like their homes, rather than usual bus stops where they would be exposed weather.

As it is, it is only bread sellers and those selling wares at motor parks who defy the weather to target early morning travellers from for sales.

At Old Garage, Bisi and Erekesan markets in Ado-Ekiti, sellers of cardigans, sweaters and other thick clothes are smiling to the bank. A dealer in cardigans at Old Garage, Mr. Cosmas Njoku, told our correspondent that he has made huge profits since the harmattan period began, wishing that it continues.

Njoku said: “The type of harmattan in town now has not been witnessed in a very long time and this has made many people to change their way of dressing because they need thick dresses to protect themselves. My brother, I will not deceive you, I have made a lot of sales in the last three weeks because of the effects of this cold weather. Many people have been coming to my shop to buy cardigans and pullovers.”

Another group of people ‘enjoying’ the harmattan season in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Aramoko-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti and other communities are tea sellers. A visit to Atikankan area in Ado-Ekiti and Fagbohun Shasha Market in Ikere-Ekiti which are dominated by Hausa traders showed that many people flock to tea joints early in the morning to drink hot tea and fight the cold.

A Hausa trader who gave his name as Hamisu told The Nation that “business” has been booming since harmattan began baring its fangs in the state.

He explained that more customers have been trooping to his stand to take tea in the morning, revealing that he now makes thrice what he used to make as profit.

Investigations also revealed that even churches are not left out, as some are now adjusting their programmes to protect their members from the impact of the weather.

In addition, residents now go out with ointments, which they apply on their lips and hands to tackle the dryness that comes with the season.

Meanwhile, farmers are happy, as they believe that the prolonged harmattan bodes well for farming in the year.

In Anambra State, the intensity of the harmattan is equally severe. Some of the residents, especially motorcycle operators, otherwise known as okada, now come out a bit late, while commuter bus transport operators and other vehicle owners now wind up their vehicle glasses.

In the same vein, those who have air conditioned vehicles no longer put them on.

Mrs. Nwando Elendu Offor told The Nation in Awka that harmattan is the best period for her husband and not herself.

She said this year’s harmattan has being stronger than in recent years, adding that at times, she stays indoors till 1pm, while covering her entire body.

She is however thankful that it has not come with any devastating effect.

A pregnant working woman, who did not want her name in print, told The Nation at Freedom Square Cyber café in Awka that this year’s harmattan has brought cough and catarrh to many families, including hers, because of its severity.

Also, Mr. Hycinth Odia complained that harmattan has never been his friend over the years, not to talk of this year’s edition that has persevered.

He said the only way he has been able to withstand the cold at night and early morning is through cuddling his wife and his pillow.

A Nollywood actress and senatorial candidate of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) in Anambra Central Senatorial zone, Lolo Oby Okafor, told The Nation that this has not been her best period.

The actress/politician revealed that the harmattan has cracked her voice, leading to the suspension of her campaign temporarily.

In Enugu, many of the children born about 12 years ago and below could comfortably be said to be experiencing their first harmattan. For many years, the coal city state has not experienced a biting harmattan as it is experiencing this year. The accompanying cold has also stopped some parents from sending their children to school, while those children who dare to go at all, report late to classes. Even teachers arrive late.

Says Mrs. Ifeoma Madu, the cold is so much in the early morning that “we sleep off beyond the normal time.” Many a times, the family also skip their morning devotions to meet up with the day’s activities. Madu, who is a retail trader at the Mayor Market, Enugu, said she has consistently failed to meet up with the market schedule and this is costing her a lot.

She however admitted “that apart from its adverse effect economically, I enjoy the weather. You do not need sleeping drugs to sleep soundly.”

Against the backdrop that the weather is affecting business adversely, Sam, a small scale super market owner at New Layout Area of Enugu, argued that the low patronage is not completely as a result of the harmattan.

He said the main cause is that many people who went for the Christmas celebration in their villages have not returned. Somehow, he however linked their “over-staying” to the harmattan which is more severe in the villages.

“Many of them want to stay back in the villages to enjoy the harmattan. You know the harmattan is “sweeter in the villages.”

At the MAON secretariat of Enugu, although offices were opened with normal duties going on, serious business was yet to commence. Also, every office window was securely locked to avoid the windy cold from finding its way into the offices.

Winter clothings are also now a common vogue, as every worker is forced by the harmattan to purchase one. Even the low income workers now put on suits to work.

Interestingly, private paediatric hospitals are smiling to the banks, as the children are not being spared by the biting cold. Many children are being rushed to hospitals due to one ailment or the other associated with harmattan.

The fact that the doctors in public hospitals are on strike is also a snag. And so, those who cannot afford the bills of the private hospitals have resorted to self-medication.

One of the paediatricians, Dr. Bede Ikem, however says there is no cause for alarm, as the fevers associated with the weather are not life-threatening.

Plateau State, hardest hit

Hardest hit however are residents of Plateau State who have witnessed a record-breaking harmattan, as temperature has fallen to as low as three degrees centigrade.

Though, originally and by virtue of its geographical location, Plateau has always has an exclusive cold weather. Its rainy season is colder than any other location in Nigeria, the dry season is also cooler. But residents say the kind of weather being experienced in the new year is historic.

75-year-old Pa Mathew Ajayi in Tudunwada, Jos, said, “The cold this year is very rare on the Plateau. I was born here on the Plateau 75 years ago; I have also lived here all my life; it has been long we witnessed this kind of weather. If I can remember, the last time we witnessed this kind of cold in Jos was 1982, some 33 years ago.”

Ajayi added that “In 1982, the last time residents experienced such cold weather, several residents died due to the impact of the cold. Some soldiers who were posted to Jos newly died after bathing with cold water. Some persons also died in Pankshin village when the fire they made to warm their huts before they could sleep exploded and consumed the house and its occupants. The 1982 weather also caused deaths of domestic animals in Pankshin local government of the state.” Pa Ajayi said

In such a low temperature of three degrees, the cold is severe enough to cause blood to clot in your veins. But citizens of the state rely on warm water and prayer to escape the cold scourge. It is even difficult to brush your mouth with cold water in the morning. Such is the situation residents of Plateau have passed through in the last two weeks.

The harsh weather has also forced residents to regulate their movement. No more night crawling at the moment, as residents round up their daily activities fast enough to return home by 6pm. Residents say the situation at the moment in the plateau state is akin to a self-imposed curfew, as they avoid coming out of their homes until 8am, and retire by 6pm.

Part of the state witnessing the worst condition is Jos, the state capital; the military barrack in Rukuba; Pankshin Local Government, as well as Riyom Local Government. Residents of Jos in particular are being warned on daily basis by the state government through the state media to take precautionary measures to avoid being victims of the harsh cold.

Residents warm water to drink both day and night, as the water is extremely cold and could cause blood-clotting when taken in its natural cold state. During the day time, people rush to the popular Terminus Market at the city centre to buy thick socks and thick hand gloves, as well as thick winter jackets, which is the new sleeping gown for both the young and the old.

Residents who must taste alcohol at night now go for exotic gin, whisky, rum, vodka and the like. The sale of beer is witnessing its lowest patronage. Families have resorted to the use of electric room warmer to sleep comfortably. Those who cannot afford electric room warmer go for charcoal which they light and place in the centre of the room.

Medical experts have warned residents to always keep themselves warm both day and night. They have also been warned against playing with cold water to avoid its attendant risk. There are fears among residents that if such weather continues as schools resumes, it might take a negative toll on pupils.

Even though the temperature has improved relatively, the impact of the cold is still high on the Plateau. Workers come out of their office to feel the sun as from 10am; traders and shop owners prefer to do business in the sun at day time whilst they head home before sun-set.

Despite the intensity of the harsh cold weather, there has been no record of fire disaster yet on the Plateau, which residents consider amazing; but Rev Samson Della of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) says it is the work of God.

Kano experience, very severe

In Kano, the story is the same. It was a time to celebrate for Chief Johnson Oley, whose wife gave birth to a bouncing baby boy after 10 years of searching for the fruit of the womb. Charged by the joy a new-born brings, the Kano-based business man decided to celebrate. He invited friends from within and outside Kano, but for some of his friends who came from far and near, it was a near-bitter experience as they were greeted by the hash haematin currently blowing in the ancient commercial city of Northern Nigeria.

One of the invitees, Mrs. Adela Seguin, a Laotian, complained bitterly over the severe chilly cold in Kano, which she likened to the situation in Norway. Dressed in different layers of gowns, sweaters, cardigans, hand-cloves and cap, apparently to prevent the cold from weakening her ribs, Mrs. Adela regretted visiting Kano at this point in time, complaining that in her life time, “I have never witnessed this kind of cold before. I once lived here in Kano and I have been visiting Kano even during haematin season; but my brother, I must confess to you that this is a worse situation. I arrived here a day ago and if not because of my relationship with Chief Johnson, I would have boarded the next available flight and found my way back to Lagos.   I know there is cold in Lagos where I reside but this Kano experience is very severe.”

Apart from the lamentations of visitors as captured in Mrs. Seguin’s account, Kano residents and, in fact, indigenes are also complaining of the harshness of this year’s haematin. They say the weather has made it a taboo for people to bath with cold water. Very early in the morning, residents, mostly youths and streets boys, are sighted by road-sides, circling around bon-fires coming out from dry fire wood just to warm their bodies. Also, road-side tea-sellers, popularly known as Mai shay in Hausa parlance, now smile to the banks as a result of the influx of customers who besiege their kiosks, both in the morning and evening for hot cups of tea, to keep body and soul warm.

Our correspondent also observed that, apart from dressing odd and awkward, all in the name of shielding the cold, most residents in Kano now skip taking their baths, especially in the morning periods when the cold is at its highest. The situation has also affected business activities, such that major markets in the commercial town remain scanty until as late as noon, when the cold would have subsided and people would be able to leave their homes.