By Achadu Kaduna, Kaduna
As the harmattan season fully commences, Nigerians have been advised to take precautionary measures against the effects of the harmattan, cold related diseases and bush burning in order to avoid fire outbreak in both rural and urban places.
The patron African climate reporters Dr Yusuf Nadabo who made the call cautioned Nigerians to be wary of possible fire outbreak during this year’s harmattan period in view of the change of weather to increase wind and other harmattan environmental related factors.
He made the called during an interview with the pressmen in kaduna, calling on all humanitarian organization such as NEMA, SEMA, RED CROSS, and Minister of Humanitarian services to as a matter of urgency commenced cealess campaign throught the media on ways to reduce fire out break in the country.
According to him, the harmattan season is here again with its attendant bushfires and various climatic hazards associated with it coupled with the damage done to life and property.
“This year’s harmattan season comes amids of omicron variant from Covid 19 pandemic and other security challenges couple up with high cost cold related clothes in the markets.
He said if citizens would be educated on ways to reduce fire out break many lives and properties would be saved.
Some of the ways he suggest among others include how people can stop Indiscriminate petrol storage and careless disposal of cigarette stubs and other sparking object at home, restaurants and markets
He further stressed the need for people to halt keeping adulterated fuel, Gas ,kerosine, illegal connection, sub-standard cables and power surge.
“With the incessant outbreak of fire in this season, its become crucial to alert Nigerians of the need to be more careful and avert keeping Gas or any explosive closer to any object that could cause problems”
“Already the arrival of the dry season is gradually creeping and putting people and businesses at the risk of fire disasters across the country.
He appealed to the public to adhere to basic fire safety measures to help reduce the occurrence of fire outbreaks during the harmattan season, stressing the need for Nigerian to be alerted and be sensitizing about improper use of domestic gas, bush burning, leaving electrical appliances connected to the socket even after use and use of charcoal to prevent any action that could lead to destruction of properties, lives and the environment.
“As a matter of fact and without exception, no season of the year comes without affecting people’s lives, but the negative effects of harmattan season seem to outweigh benefits derived from the other seasons.
He also caution the general public against spraying of insecticides near your cooking stove or gas cooker at home, school, market, and restaurants.
Similarly, a micro-biologist from the college of science and technology (women hood kaduna) comrade Nurudden Bello said its really high time to sensitized the general public on ways to reduce fire out break in the communities\
Bello make the appealed during an interview with kaduna base journalist at the college premises
He said, there was need to Improve on the housekeeping culture, while Checking indiscriminate refuse and bush burning
According to him there is also need to avoid wrong and improper storage of petroleum
products in the houses premises to avert any dangers associated with fire out break at home
While calling on people to reduce use of candle and firewood to light the
house at night, he equally appealed to the general public to halt used of sparking light and other small expolisive devices the little children used when playing
Responding, a kaduna based Non governmental, NGO, on environment ( kaduna metro environment, cleaning and awareness) leader, Alhaji Suleman jibrin, mphasesed on the need for people to create awareness on dangers of fire out break at this season of harmattan
The pointed that, the increase in fire incidents and fire related fatalities reported across the country is indeed sending a strong signal for citizens to be very conscious especially as we approach the dry and dusty Harmattan season.
While calling on local and international media to equally support toward introducing programs that would educate the general public on dangers associated with fire out breaks and ways to save communities against it
He called for tougher punishment for anybody who set bush on fire indiscriminately.
