Posted by By Ben Ukwuoma, Chukwuma Muanya (Lagos), Emeka Anuforo (Abuja), Abiodun Fagbemi (Ilorin) and Iyabo Lawal (Ibadan) on
DARKNESS is expected to descend on Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states between 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. today as the country observes its fifth solar eclipse. The landscape is expected to be lit by thousands of camera flashes and fireworks.
*Agency cautions against direct view of sun
DARKNESS is expected to descend on Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina states between 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. today as the country observes its fifth solar eclipse. The landscape is expected to be lit by thousands of camera flashes and fireworks.
The other 31 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are expected to experience partial solar eclipse. Nigeria had witnessed total eclipses in 1898, 1947, 1959 and 2001.
A survey by The Guardian shows that most Nigerians are expectant of the event, contrary to what was obtainable in the past. A group of science reporters from the United States are also in Nigeria to witness the event. They visited The Guardian last Thursday.
Already hundreds of foreign tourists have arrived in Oyo State for the viewing of the eclipse just as the Federal Government has sent 10,000 solar filters to the states for the people to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Indeed, a team of international tourists numbering more than 117 from Madrid and Barcelona in Spain are in Nigeria to watch the eclipse of the sun.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the 30-minute eclipse would pass through Brazil and some African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria as well as Turkey, and some countries around the world.
An eclipse of the Sun is said to occur at new Moon when the Moon passes between Earth and Sun.
A 60-year-old enthusiast, Mr. Jide Bamidele, told The Guardian: " I cannot wait to go to Sango Ota, in Ogun State, early tomorrow morning to observe the total solar eclipse. The last time I saw one was in 1959 when I was still a child. I have bought a darkened eye glass and I hope the solar eclipse will be visible around Gateway Hotel, Ota."
While the foreign journalists are well-equipped with sophisticated and protective gadgets to capture the event, most Nigerians can only make do with a sunshade. It has been shown that looking directly to the solar eclipse with an unprotected eye could cause permanent blindness.
A Physicist at the University of Lagos, Dr. J. Akinrimisi speaking on the possibility of causing skin cancer, said: "I do not think it will cause skin cancer, because the duration is not much. The longest duration ever recorded for an eclipse is under seven minutes, but I think this one is going to be for at most four minutes and it is not going to cause cancer in four minutes.
" There is no need to panic. Eclipse occurs every year around the globe it is just that Nigeria falls within the area this one is going to appear."
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has taken delivery of over 500, 000 special filters for the phenomenon.
The agency has also reiterated its call on Nigerians not to panic as there is no spiritual attachment to the phenomenon.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja recently, the DG of NASRDA, Prof. Robert Boroffice said: "It is not just any spectacles one can buy on the way and wear, if you buy it on the wayside, it could just be dangerous. We will make the filters easily available, cheap and sometime free for Nigerians. It will be as cheap as N80-N100."
He added that the eclipse would further offer students a unique opportunity to see a natural event that illustrates the basic principles of mathematics and physics that are thought in the elementary schools.
"Round the world, solar eclipses have inspired many scientists to study science. Teachers can use eclipses to show how the laws of motion and dynamics of orbital motions can predict the occurrences of eclipses," he said.
Prof. Pius N. Okeke noted that the Centre for Basic Space Science at Nsukka had made provisions for plenty of eclipse filters in conjunction with International Astronomical Union.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has set up two observatory centres to monitor the eclipse in the geo-political areas (North-West and South-West) it will pass through.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has also advised Nigerians not to panic over the total solar eclipse.
NIMET's Director-General, Liwhu Akeh, said that the advice was necessary to enlighten people about the eclipse.
Akeh's advice was contained in a statement signed by NIMET spokeswoman, Eva Azinge, in Abuja.
The country's chief meteorologist said that Nigerians should not be disturbed by the natural occurrence, as there was no known meteorological implication of the eclipse.
However, Akeh said that the solar radiation might significantly change surface temperature.
In Kwara State the wife of the governor, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, has also advised the people not to panic at the sight of the natural occurrence.
Mrs. Saraki yesterday donated solar eclipse sunshields to children through the Kwara WellBeing Trust, Alaafia Kwara. The sunshields are meant to protect the children's eyes from the harmful effects of looking directly at the sun.
She said: "People have not truly become aware that looking directly at the sun even when it has been eclipsed is risky, since the event itself is only for a few minutes and some parts of the sun might be seen at anytime. The sun however is very bright and in some cases has caused permanent damage to the eyes; we have heard stories of people getting partial and permanent eye defects."
The governor's wife also noted that using normal sunglasses will not be sufficient because they are for fashion and sunny days, but not for staring directly at the sun.
"The material used to manufacture regular sunglasses are not specified for direct focus at the sun. These special sunshields, manufactured by American Paper Optics, Incorporated, are made for direct solar viewing," she said.
Mrs. Saraki said children interested in getting the special sunshields should go to the Ministry of Women Affairs, adding that they should not be left alone, but must be supervised during the eclipse.
Information and Home Affairs Commissioner, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin also said eclipses are not caused by witches and wizards.
He urged the people to go about their normal businesses.
Oyo State Government has also appealed to the people not to panic, assuring them of their safety.
The eclipse is expected to pass through the state mostly at Saki in the Oke-Ogun area.
Health Commissioner, Dr. Isaac Owolabi, said the eclipse would be a simple, normal phenomenon capable of making the area a tourist centre during the period.
He noted that the last eclipse occurred in 1968 and would again be witnessed in the year 2034 according to forecast.
Owolabi was supported by his Science and Technology counterpart while presenting some specially-made eye glasses before reporters to be used today to facilitate looking directly into the sun.
The state government said people in the areas to be affected have been adequately sensitised to cope with the incident.