- By Halimah Olamide
The three days of rains have brought relief to many Nigerians especially in the urban centres after the killing heatwave that had persisted for weeks.
Lagos residents have witnessed heavy downpours since weekend with many of the rains leading to flood.
However, the rains have come at a time that residents had become helpless over the worsening weather condition.
The situation was further compounded with the worsening power supply in many parts of the country with incessant collapse of the national grid.
The poor power supply had led to many sleeping outside their their houses especially where there are poor ventilation.
Findings by the NPO Reports showed that while the heat lasted, many found it impossible to sleep and in some cases leading to sickness.
“After two days of inability to sleep last week I knew I would get sick,” said Mrs. Maureen Idiase-Odafe, a pharmacist who works with a major store in Ikeja Lagos
She said on two occasions, she stayed behind in the office knowing well that there would be no light in he estate located in Abule Egba, a suburb of Lagos.
A medical doctor, Sanusi Daudu, said hospitals, in the last few weeks treated more of heat related ailments because of the current weather.
He told the NPO Reports that diseases such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash and others are commonly treated in hospitals
At the Crest Life Pharmacy and Superstore, one of the attendants told the NPO Reports that drugs sold mostly in the last few weeks were those to cure heat-related ailments.
In the last two weeks, most residential estates that used to enjoy about 12 hours of power supply fell to as low as one hour per day and in some cases, no power supply for two or more days.
“On February 14 when the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company sent out its annual Valentine Day wishes, the company got more than it wished for in negative attacks as many social media users attacked the company over poor power supply.
The rains have however brought some relief in the last three days with lesser heat and reduced cases of heat-related ailments.
“We are somehow relieved now,” said Mrs. Agnes Akindaju, a frozen food seller at the popular Ogba retail market.