Expert Cautions Against Candle Lighting In Harmattan

A consultant with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Isaac Nwabara, has warned people against lighting candles in their homes during harmattan season.

Nwabara gave the warning in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Abuja recently.

He said that lighting of candles at this time of the year could result in inferno with damaging effects on the environment in general.

Nwabara urged people to instead use rechargeable lamps whenever power outage occurred to avoid fire disaster, a common phenomenon during the harmattan season.

“Although harmattan is a natural hazard that every man needs to contend with, there must be ways to manage the weather by adopting some personal and collective measures to stay healthy.’’

He stressed the need for people to always keep their skin healthy through the application of oily creams and by putting on weather friendly clothes.

“This is the period that people should put on more of suits, flowing gowns, and cardigans.

“The homes should be kept warm by closing doors and windows to prevent dust from entering the house.

“Proper eye hygiene in form of washing that part of the body with water, and putting on of protective spectacles are necessary,’’ he further advised.

Nwabara said that the need for proper eye care became necessary because “eyes are directly exposed to the harsh weather, especially the dust particles carried by the wind.’’

He called on the people suffering from lower respiratory diseases to take measures to reduce exposure to dusty atmosphere to avoid health hazards.

The consultant called for individual and group to ensure that the society derived maximum benefit from clean and healthy environment.

He urged individuals to eschew blocking drainages, especially during rainy season to avoid flood among other environmental challenges.