As prices in market go up with its tensions, residents of Port Harcourt are crying to the sky over the intense heat that has made the city a living hell.
The situation appears uncontrollable as it affects all classes of the society.
Many motorists cannot keep to using airconditioner as the cost o fuel cannot withstand that.
In the homes and at night, residents swim in the midst of their sweat.
Even a stroll outside the home to get fresh air is not forthcoming as ventilations produce more heat.
The fans in the house oscillate heat as if one is in an oven.
With the challenge of what to eat and do and the heat wave, many residents of Port Harcourt are crying to the roof.
Just recently, married women demonstrated in front of Port Harcourt Electric Distribution Company(PHED) premises that their husbands are no longer touching them and that the romance associated with the night among couples was no longer there as their spouses detest heat coming from their body.
Speaking in an interview with Metronetworknews, a senior lecturer in the department of Advertising and Public Relations, Faculty of Media Studies and Communication, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Sunny Mbazie said that the heat was not normal.
”I look at the heat as not normal. It is part of the global warming. Alot of desforestation is going on in the country and careless discharge of chemicals including flaring of gases. The ozone layer has drastically depleted thereby resulting into this heat.
”I am afraid that it could bring out menigitis, heat stroke and so on. To worsen matter, there has not been adequate supply of electricity in the Nigerian way. So, if combined with the hardship going on in the country, we are simply living in a hell”, he stated.
Another resident, Princewill Dike said, ”Hell is here! This is not global warming but global heating with concentration in Port Harcourt. It suppresses two horse power airconditioner. Matter is made worse by the skyrocketing cost of diesel and fuel”.
On her own part, Mrs. Blessing Usen, a store owner said it has caused alot of suffering and taking heavy toll on her business.
Her words; ”What we are experiencing is too much. The heat is affecting us both at home and business place. We cannot sleep well. In the night, we will be roaming around looking for where to lie down to get ourselves. It is compounded by the epilectic power supply in this area. I cannot sell my drinks and water because they are not cold. No light to cool them”.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency impact based forecast map showed that Port Harcourt is in extreme danger and heatstroke or sunstroke is highly likely.
Also, its heat index forecast report for February14, 2024, pointed that air temperature would hit 41°C over the North and 39°C over the South with model projections indicating temperatures to remain high in the coming days
The agency in the report advised people to drink a lot of fluid throughout this period.
Amusa David
