…Urges airline operators to keep abreast with reports for safe flight
By Mohammed Mohammed
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet) on Wednesday alerted Nigerians on the possibility of deterioration in visibility in some Northern states as a result of observed dust haze propagated into the country from the source region.
EXTRAORDINAIRE.COM checks in Bwari, Garki, Dusten Alhaji, Kubwa and others suburb within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), showed a dull atmosphere beclouded with low visibility.
According to a release from the Agency, “Stations in the source region from Chad (Faya-Largeau, Bol-Berim, Mongo, Abeche and Ndjamena) have been reporting horizontal visibility between 800m and 4000m. Other sources from Niger that share border with northern Nigeria (Diffa, Maine-Soroa, Goure, Bila, Maradi, zinder and Birni-n- Konni) have been reporting dust haze in poor visibility between 1000m and 3000 m since the last 24 hours”.
Explaining the weather phenomenon, which usually herald the Harmattan season, the Agency’s General Manager/PR, Mr. Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim, in a statement revealed that due to strong winds, the dust in suspension is expected to propagate to some states in the Northern part of the country, which will further reduce horizontal visibility.
The release further disclosed that there are prospects of DUST HAZE (in moderate to poor horizontal visibility) over the northern parts of the country , especially over Katsina , Kano, , Nguru, Jigawa Potiskum and Maiduguri in the next 24 hours, the statement reads.
NiMet therefore advise members of the public to take necessary precautions due to dust particles presently in suspension over the atmosphere. Individuals with respiratory ailments are advised to protect themselves as the current weather condition is not good for their health.
Airline operators are also advised to avail themselves of weather reports from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
He said, NiMet will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates when necessary.