By EDDY OCHIGBO, Kaduna –
Residents of Kaduna metropolis on Monday, heaved a sigh of relief when they recorded the first rain of the year, following prolonged hot weather, which had exposed them to various health hazards, ranging from meningitis, measles and diseases that come with hot weather.
The rain which was not heavy, started at about 7.30 pm and lasted for a few minutes in the different locations including, Barnawa, Narayi, Ungwar Rimi, Kakuri, Kabala West and some parts of Badarawa, Malali and Kawo.
Residents who have been expecting the first rain all this while, attributed its late coming to climate change. According to residents, Kaduna in the past used to experience its first rain in February or March. They expressed worry that the light shower might further exacerbate the hot weather and expose the people to heat-borne diseases.
Alfred Danjuma put the situation in Kaduna metropolis this way: “I don’t consider this light shower as rain and I don’t think it will have any effect on the weather but if it continues, the better for everybody because the heat is unbearable”.
Another resident, who welcome the first shower believes it might cool down the hot weather and give the people some form of relief because according to him many residents who have poor ventilation have been having sleepless nights and taking ill.
NATIONAL ACCORD learnt that Zaria, Kafanchan and other parts of the state have earlier experienced first rains at different times this year.
With the ongoing urban renewal programme of the Governor Nasir el-Rufai administration – characterized by good drainages especially in flood prone areas – chances are that the usual flood disasters during the rainy season in the metropolis may be reduced to the barest minimum this year.
