Let’s make 2020 ‘ember months’ safe!

 

The last four months of the year – September, October, November and December – are usually called the ‘ember months. Not a few people have the superstitious belief that the aforementioned months are dangerous, evil and notorious. It is believed that a lot of bad things happen during this period. There are those who are of the view that it is the harvest season for the “forces of darkness”. Thus, a lot of prayer sessions are organised by religious groups to ward off the potential evil. Ironically, there is no scientific proof of this. In actual fact, atrocities associated with these months are man-made and avoidable. .

Quite a lot of things may have led to the belief that ‘ember months are to be dreaded. It is a season that marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. During this period, there is a lot of fog or mist which dims visibility. Thus, there are a lot of vehicular accidents during this season not because of any spiritual reason though, but largely due to over-speeding and reckless driving on the roads.  Why do you need to speed when you can see far? Even flights are cancelled or delayed when there is poor visibility. Many of the vehicles plying our roads are not roadworthy. They are jalopies that should have been grounded but for the bad economy which has incapacitated their owners from replacing them. Unfortunately, corruption is also a factor as road traffic managers and vehicle inspection officials allow such unserviceable vehicles which should have been impounded to ply our roads once their palms are greased.

I wholeheartedly support the initiative of the Federal Road Safety Corps which has begun its nationwide year-end campaign with the theme, ‘Drive Safe and Stay Safe’ to sensitise road users to the safety measures outlined. The FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, said the campaign aims to educate “the motoring public to make the 2020 ’ember’ months unique and crash-free by adhering strictly to road traffic regulations.”

The statement released on Monday quoted Oyeyemi as saying, “With the rapid infrastructural development going on in the rail transport sector under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, commuters are advised to maximise alternative means of transportation by patronising train stations where available, as this will drastically reduce the pressure on the road transport sector.”

He also advised people to “travel in phases, so as to avoid a cluster of traffic during the ember months”, urging them “to patronise safe and secure mass transit companies that have been duly certified to operate.” The corps marshal also warned that all travelling protocols for COVID-19 must be strictly adhered to, noting that the enforcement on 50 per cent carrying capacity for all vehicles targeted at creating adequate physical distancing is still in place. He also said the FRSC will not spare any fleet operator caught violating these directives.

Furthermore, he said that: “Terminals and parks are expected to double down their efforts in providing adequate running water with soap and sanitisers in their parks and terminals. While maintaining physical distancing, all vehicles must have sanitisers inside them and avoid as much as possible, the use of air conditioning system among others”.

However, as the saying goes, “none so deaf as those who will not hear”. It will be most appreciated if these safety protocols can be enforced as Nigerians are known not to be persuaded by mere advisories. As commuters, we have a role to play by mounting pressure on reckless drivers to drive carefully, failure of which such a driver should be reported to law enforcement agents.

It is however not only road accidents that we should be wary of these ‘ember months. Flash flood has also been predicted for this season of the year. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency recently said that the Middle Niger of the River Niger Basin is currently flooded and the magnitude of flood from this area is expected to arrive in Nigeria through Kebbi State around September 6, 2020.  At least, 102 local government areas in 28 states fall within the highly probable flood-risk areas, according to the agency. It said parts of the 275 local government areas in the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja, are within the moderately probable flood-risk areas, while the remaining 397 local government areas are within the low probable flood-risk areas. Specifically, the agency said there could be river flooding in the states contiguous to the River Niger, namely: Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa.

It is said that a war foretold does not kill a wise cripple. I hope the concerned Nigerian authorities will not stand akimbo and be preparing to issue condolence messages when the forecast flooding takes place. September 6 is just 96 hours away from today and everything should be done by state and local governments who are at high risk of the predicted flood to take preemptive action. They should evacuate residents of the river basin to safe places and ensure that drainage and water channels are cleared of debris. Houses and other buildings that are dilapidated should be pulled down in a controlled manner in order to prevent floods from coming to pull down such structures arbitrarily. As the saying goes, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.

The period of the ‘ember months’ is the farmers’ harvest season and time for social events such as weddings, funerals, end-of-the-year partying. As we plan for these social events, we must remember that COVID-19 is still very much with us and has thus far claimed over a thousand lives in Nigeria. We therefore must do well to observe the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical safety protocols of wearing of face masks, physical distancing, regular handwashing and use of alcohol based hand sanitisers. Not only that, ‘ember months also coincide with the onset of the harmattan season with its extreme cold and heat. This brings about health hazards such as cold, pneumonia, meningitis and even Lassa fever.

As earlier said, the rainy season will cease and dry or harmattan season will set in during this period. In the course of the dry season, there is usually a spike in the number of fire incidents. We therefore must be cautious on how we handle fire during the dry season. Bush burning in preparation for the next farming season must be well controlled. Smokers should also learn to effectively snuff out smoke from their cigarette butts.  We must also handle highly inflammable substances like gas and petrol with utmost care.

You and I can make the ‘ember months disaster-free if we play our part as patriotic citizens. Road accidents, fire incidents, flooding and health challenges associated with the rainy and dry seasons are all avoidable if we take care and act responsibly.

Welcome to the ‘ember months!