Eclipse sweeps across Nigeria

• Partial eclipse in Abuja, Lagos, other cities

FROM IKENNA EMEWU, ABUJA and JUDEX OKORO, Calabar, with NAN reports

Five years after Nigerians witnessed the eclipse of the sun, the country yesterday experienced the unusual, as the sun dimmed mid-day in the federal capital, Abuja, Lagos and other cities.
In Calabar, Cross River State capital, darkness enveloped the city momentarily, as the eclipse occurred.

A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon passes in-between the sun and the earth and partially blocks the sun.
Yesterday, for more than one hour, the city of Abuja experienced something unusual, as the sunlight grew so dull that it appeared like it was going to rain. It was also the same experience in Lagos, Calabar and other cities.
The eclipse started in Abuja at exactly 1. 03 p.m., as predicted by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). The incident was foretold and as a result, residents expected something out of the ordinary.
A few minutes past 2pm, the sky was overcast. The sunlight was unusually dull and the weather was calm but with that out-of-place tinge.
Gradually, the sky kept darkening and ultimately what shone over the city was a grey shade that grew into somewhat moonlit daytime instead of the usual sun.

Many residents who had prior information of the natural phenomenon were curious   and wore tinted eyeglasses to observe the incident that shades out the earth from sunlight during the daytime when the moon breaks the connect.
Some residents in Utako, where Daily Sun observed the incident, filled white basins with water to see the sun and moon fuse in odd romance.
 In Calabar, Daily Sun observed that about 1:30pm yesterday, there were light showers, which was followed by sunshine. Suddenly, the weather changed. Shortly after, darkness enveloped the cloud gradually until the skies darkened noticeably, within the city.
During the period of darkness, which lasted for about one and half hours, some people along Ekpo Abasi axis were seen outside trying to catch a glimpse of the eclipse.


Some residents were seen with bowls of water trying to watch the reflected eclipse.
“I saw the brief passage of the eclipse in my bowl, but it was over quickly and the dark clouds spoiled the effect, “a resident said.
Elijaj Eyo, a part time lecturer at the University of Calabar, told Daily Sun: “Though eclipse is a rare phenomenon, in the afternoon yesterday, I saw a black disc progressively covered the sun. It was magnificent. I was at Akarika Lane off Mayne Avenue for a child’s dedication and suddenly darkness came and we were wondering whether the world was coming to an end.”

Mr. Ukam Johnson, 21, a student at Cross River State University of Technology, said, “suddenly the cloud became yellowish and when I dimmed my eyes, I couldn’t see. So I decided to stop so that it wouldn’t affect my eyes.”
Johnson, who is also the Director if Information, National Association of Cross River State students, said: “I saw the brief passage of the eclipse, but it was over quickly and the black clouds disappeared. Believe me, what happened today (yesterday) has never happened in my lifetime. But that is nature for you.” The natural occurrence that hit Nigeria last, about five years ago, where some places, including Igbo Ora in Ibarakpa West LGA of Oyo State, witnessed momentary night for some 20 minutes after 11am, slowly cleared off as it started.

Meanwhile, about 500 students of public and private schools across the country yesterday observed the partial solar eclipse at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja.
 The agency provided the students and some Nigerians with instruments, including eclipse shades, to observe the eclipse.
Supervising Minister for Science and Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said the students were invited in order to motivate them to develop interest in the study of science and technology.
“We invited these students to boost their interests in studying of science and technology, which is the bedrock of industrialisation of any nation. That is why we are using this medium to encourage you to develop interest in studying science and technology, particularly astronomy and space science,” Johnson said.
The minister, who was represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs Rabi Jimeta, said the partial solar eclipse phenomenon is an indication that space technology is working in the country.
She promised that government would step up efforts at ensuring the development of space science in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, described solar eclipse as a natural phenomenon with no direct impact on climate change.
He described as false, insinuations that eclipse was a sign that the world was coming to an end.
He stated: “All that is happening is a natural phenomenon and there is no religious sentiment attached to it. This should help us to discourage the mysteries attached to solar eclipse by various religious bodies.
“From the scientific perspective, it’s just a natural phenomenon. The signal from geo-stationary satellites does not have effect on any of the communication gadgets like the GSM, aircraft and businesses.”
Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, commended government for the opportunity to observe the eclipse at the centre, adding that it would boost their interest in studying science-related courses.

 Mr. Yat Japheth, a student of Baptist High School, Kubwa, FCT, said today was his first time of observing solar eclipse with such instruments provided by NASRDA.
Miss Peculiar Daniel, Scintillate International Model School, Lokoja, said the opportunity would help her to know more about the sun, the moon and the earth.

Also, Mr. Luru Adewumi, a teacher at the Oak Height Schools, Lugbe, Abuja, described it as an opportunity that some of the teachers never had when they were in schools.
Adewumi said the opportunity would not allow anybody to deceive the students about strange attachments to solar eclipse by people.

He said the experience would help the students to understand the practical aspects of science.
However, Mrs Akinwumi Arize, who brought her five-year-old son to observe the eclipse, said such gesture would help children to know how the galaxy and the universe operate.
NASRDA had predicted that a partial solar eclipse would occur in Lagos at 12:30pm; Kano, 1.07 p. m. and Enugu, 1.04 p.m.

It also added that the entire African continent would be affected by the partial eclipse, while some other parts of the world would witness total eclipse.
The agency predicted that another partial eclipse would occur in April 2014, March 2015 and September 2016.

SOURCE :SUNNEWSONLINE.COM