Weather: Sudden Harmattan disrupts activities in Kano State

The sudden emergence of Harmattan has disrupted activities in the ancient commercial city of Kano state in North-West Nigeria as poor visibility enveloped the town.

Residents expressed surprise on the return of the haze weather as the harmattan season is almost over giving way to intense heat with an average temperature above 33 degrees centigrade.

One of the residents, Haruna Bulama of Mariri Quarters said the dry, hot and windy weather coming at this time is a surprise.

“It’s against the normal dry season weather, as this one comes with dust and heat instead of cold, so it’s complicated. I am surprised on the return of this type of weather,” said Bulama

On the Streets of Kano, transportation is disrupted as most vehicles could not ply roads because of the blurry weather, especially in the evening.

Doctors have warned on the impact of the sudden weather change as it could result in respiratory and eye diseases, especially as Covid-19 diseases is not yet over.

Consequently, people have returned to the use of head gears and nose masks to wade off the accompanying dust.

A medical personnel with a Public Health centre in Mariri, Kumbotso local government area of Kano state, Abdulahi Ibrahim said the impact of the weather would be mixed because of the accompanying heat.

“This is not the usual dry weather with cold and dust. There is no cold but dry, windy and heat in this sudden weather change. So there will be issues of heat rashes and other hot weather diseases emerging alongside dry season diseases,” said Ibrahim.
A trader at Hotoro quarters, Mallam Sanusi Abubakar said the weather will affect businesses as movements will be restricted.

“Most people will not be coming out to do shopping in the morning and evening because the dust is much and the ability to see is poor. People will prefer to stay indoors until they can see well before coming out,” said Abubakar.

Commercial and private vehicles with wind Shield fully rolled up as well as Motorcycles and tricycles could be seen on marginal numbers plying the streets of Kano with full headlights and parking lights on, even at noon.

The Spokesman for the Federal Road Safety, Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran said patrol teams have been placed on high alert to ensure that vehicles put on their parking lights and reduce speed to curtail road crashes that could occur from poor visibility.

PIAK