NiMet Gives Heads-Up On Heat Wave In Nigeria And Suggests Safety Measures.

 With intense heat waves predicted to reach the area on Saturday, April 6, 2024, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a severe warning to citizens of Abuja, Kano, and several other northern states, alerting them to the possibility of heat strokes.

Exposure to severe heat can lead to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition caused by the body's inability to control its temperature. Based on the expected intensity of heat waves, NiMet divided the 36 states into five danger categories in its most recent alert, which was published on Friday: Normal, Caution, Extreme Caution, Danger, and Extreme Danger.

States like Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, and Kogi were classified as being in "Extreme Danger," requiring locals to take urgent preventative action to lessen the chance of heat-related ailments, including heat stroke.

States like Katsina, Adamawa, Kebbi, and others are now included on the list of areas in grave danger, raising worries about the potential effects on public health.

Even though Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo are among the states that are classified as "Caution," NiMet nonetheless urges locals to exercise caution because heat strokes are still a possibility, albeit less so than in high-risk zones.

The alert is issued amid a weeks-long heat wave that has engulfed Nigeria, with some areas seeing temperatures as high as forty degrees Celsius.

Previous forecasts from NiMet suggested that the unbearable heat might last until May, with highs of 41°C in the north and 39°C in the south.

Therefore, the meteorological agency recommended Nigerians to drink a lot of water and, if at all feasible, seek out air-conditioned locations to cool off in an alert issued on its official handle on X.

In addition, NiMet recommended that children not be left in a closed, parked car, that hats and sunshades be worn outside, and that newborns be kept well-hydrated and oxygenated.

To lessen the effects of high temperatures, the agency also recommended wearing light, breathable clothing and avoiding physically demanding activities during the hottest parts of the day by spending as much time indoors as possible between 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm.

Public awareness campaigns and education on the risks of heat stress and preventive measures are crucial, according to NiMet.