Mmetọ n'okporo ụzọ Lagọọs, Naijirịa. Foto nke Boluwatife Oguns  site na Unsplash. Ikike: N'efu iji.

Mmetụta nrụgide sitere na okpomọkụ nye ndị Naịjirịa

Ndị Global Voices kwusaara ụfọdụ ndị Naịjirịa ka ha ghọta ka nrụgide okpomọkụ si emetụta obodo ha, ọrụ, na ndụ ha kwa ụbọchị. 

Onyekachi Ogbu bụ onye ndụmọdụ gbasara asụsụ Igbo na ọkachamara ozi AI. O bi na Enugwu, Naijirịa. Ọ na-akọwa otú nrụgide okpomọkụ si emetụta mmepụta ya:

It makes it difficult to work, especially for a person like me who works from home. We don't use the regular power supply in my house. We rely on solar power and a power generator for power, but the solar power does not last for 24 hours. So, we majorly use it when the sun is shining from peak from 9 am to 12 pm or 1 pm. We use it mostly at night, and we can not use it to power fans because it is incapable of powering fans. So, we mostly rely on natural air entering the house from the windows. It's only when we are on the power generating set that we can use the ceiling fans. Because of the heat, it is hard to work indoors. Sometimes, I would have to work on my laptop outside to get fresh air as I work.

The heat is also causing distraction. Imagine having a virtual meeting, and you have to be fully clothed, and you are sweating heavily as the meeting is ongoing. It will cause distraction because you won’t be comfortable because you can’t take off your clothes while having virtual meetings.

What I rely on to work easily these days is to use hand fans or step outside of the house. On some occasions, I buy fuel for the generator, but I cannot afford to do this every time because fuel price is high.

I believe everyone is feeling the heat stress, but many people in rural areas have limited awareness about it. That's why we need to create awareness for them to take safety precautions such as staying hydrated and being well-aerated.

Ọ na-eme ka ọrụ sie ike, ọkachasị onye dị ka m  na-arụ ọrụ n'ụlọ. Anyị anaghị adabere n'ike eletrik gọọmenti na-enye n'ụlọ anyị. Anyị na-eji ọkụ sitere na anyanwụ na igwe nye ọkụ  nweta ọkụ eletrik. Ma, ọkụ anyanwụ anaghị adịru awa 24. Ya mere, anyị na-eji ya eme ihe mgbe anyanwụ na-achasi ike, site n'ihe dị ka elekere 9 nke ụtụtụ ruo elekere 12 ma ọ bụ 1 nke ehihie. Anyị na-ejikwa ya eme ihe n'abalị, ma o nweghị ike ibuli igwe ikuku. N'ihi nke a, anyị na-adaberekarị n'ikuku sitere n'èzí nke na-abata site na mpio. Ọ bụ naanị mgbe igwe nye ọkụ na-arụ ọrụ ka anyị nwere ike iji igwe nye ikuku nke dị n'uko ụlọ. N'ihi oke okpomọkụ a, ọ na-esi ike ịrụ ọrụ n'ime ụlọ. Mgbe ụfọdụ, ana m eburu laptọọpụ m pụọ n'èzí ka m nwee nweta ikuku dị mma mgbe m na-arụ ọrụ.

Oke okpomọkụ a na-akpatakwa ihe ndọpụ uche. Were ya na ị nọ na nzukọ a na-eme n'ịntanetị, ebe ị ga-eyichi ahụ nke ọma, ma ajịjara na-agba gị nke ukwuu n'oge nzukọ ahụ. Nke a na-eme ka uche gị ghara ịdị n'ọrụ n'ihi na ahụ agaghị eru gị ala, ebe ị pụghị iyipụ uwe gị n'oge nzukọ ahụ.

Ihe na-enyere m aka ịrụ ọrụ nke ọma n'oge a bụ iji akupe aka ma ọ bụ ịpụ n'ezi. Mgbe ụfọdụkwa, ana m azụta mmanụ petrol maka igwe nye ọkụ, ma enweghị m ike ime nke a mgbe niile n'ihi na ọnụ ahịa mmanụ petrol dị oke ọnụahịa.

Ekwenyere m na onye ọ bụla na-enwe mmetụta nke nrụgide okpomọkụ a, ma ọtụtụ ndị bi n'ime ime obodo amachaghị nke ọma banyere ya. Ọ bụ ya mere anyị ji chọọ ịkwalite ka ha mara ihe ha ga-eme iji chebe onwe ha, dịka ịṅụ mmiri nke ọma ka ahụ ghara ịkpọ nkụ na ịnọ n'ebe ikuku na-abata nke ọma.

Adewale Afolabi, bụ onye ọkwọọ ọgba tum tum  na Osogbo, nke Steeti Osun, Naịjirịa, kwuru na ha agaghị editenwu okpomọkụ ahụ

The heat is too much and it is affecting my work, but I must continue working in order to take care of myself and my family.

Oke okpomọkụ a dị ukwuu nke bụ na ọ na-emetụta ọrụ m. N'agbanyeghị nke ahụ, aghaghị m ịhapụ na-arụ ọrụ ka m nwee ike ilekọta onwe m na ezinụlọ m.

Muh'd Tasi’u Jibril bụ onye ọkà mmụta asụsụ bi na Bauchi, kọwara otú okpomọkụ si emetụta ndị mmadụ bi na mpaghara ugwu Naịjirịa.

The heat has been unbearable for the last two weeks. As for a remote worker like me, I cannot work around 11pm to 3pm due to the unbearable heat. The heat was too much during the last ten days of Ramadan. It was so hot that people suffering from ulcer had to break their fast.

Normally, over here we used to experience the harmattan season during the months December, January and February. But this year there is nothing like that.

The heat did not affect my daily work since I work remotely. It is just the epileptic power supply that is making me feel the heat because you won't be able to use ACs and fans. I hardly sleep at night. I only sleep when I am able to find an alternative source of power to power fans and ACs. Also, it is difficult to get cold water to drink in this period because there is no electricity. What we used to do to cope with the heat stress at night is sleep outdoors, but we can no longer do that due to insecurity. It's only those who can afford solar panels that can power fans or AC that are not affected by the heat stress.

Okpomọkụ a adịla njọ nke ukwuu n'ime izu abụọ gara aga. Maka onye dị ka m na-arụ ọrụ n'ụlọ site n'ịntanetị, anaghị m enwe ike ịrụ ọrụ nke ọma site n'elekere 11 nke abalị ruo elekere 3 nke ehihie n'ihi oke okpomọkụ ahụ. N'ime ụbọchị iri ikpeazụ nke ọnwa Ramadan, okpomọkụ ahụ kakwuru njọ. Ọ dị oke ọkụ nke na ụfọdụ ndị na-ebu ọnụ, ọkachasị ndị nwere ọrịa ọnya afọ, ji ya kwụsị ibu ọnụ n'ihi na ha enweghị ike ịnagide ya.

N'ozuzu, ebe anyị bi, anyị na-enwekarị oge Ụgụrụ n'ọnwa Disemba, Jenụwarị na Febrụwarị. Ma n'afọ a, oge Ụgụrụ ahụ apụtaghị ma ọlị.

Okpomọkụ ahụ n'onwe ya emetụtaghị ọrụ m kwa ụbọchị ebe ọ bụ na m na-arụ ọrụ site n'ụlọ. Ihe na-eme ka m nwee mmetụta nke okpomọkụ a bụ ọkụ eletrik na-adịghị akwụdosi ike, n'ihi na ọ na-eme ka anyị ghara iji igwe ndezi ikuku na igwe nye ikuku. Ọ na-esiri m ike ihi ụra n'abalị. Naanị mgbe m nwetara ụzọ ọzọ isi nweta ọkụ eletrik nke na-ebuli igwe nye ikuku na igwe ndezi ikuku ka m na-enwe ike ihi ụra. Ọzọkwa, ọ na-esi ike inweta mmiri oyi ọṅụṅụ n'oge a n'ihi na ọkụ eletrik adịghị. Na mbụ, ihe anyị na-emekarị iji nagide okpomọkụ n'abalị bụ ịrahụ ụra n'èzí. Ma ugbu a, anyị enweghịzi ike ime nke ahụ n'ihi nsogbu nchekwa. Ugbu a, ọ bụ naanị ndị nwere ike ịzụta ma wụnye ibe ọkụ anyanwụ ka nwere ike iji igwe nye ikuku ma ọ bụ igwe ndezi ikuku, ya mere ha anaghị enwe mmetụta nke okpomọkụ a dịka ndị ọzọ.

Nsogbu ọkụ eletrik na Naịjirịa na-eme ka ọnọdụ dịkwuo njọ.

Ọnọdụ ọkụ eletrik na-akawanye njọ na Naịjiria emeela ka nsogbu a dịkwuo njọ. Grid ọkụ eletrik mba ahụ adaala ọtụtụ ugboro n'afọ 2026. Nke a butere mwepụ ọkụ eletrik n'ofe mba ahụ. Nke a emeela ka o siere ọtụtụ ụmụ amaala ike ịnagide nrụgide okpomọkụ a. N'ihi nkwụsị ọkụ eletrik, ọtụtụ ndị Naịjirịa enweghị ike iji ngwa eletrik dịka igwe nye ikuku na igwe ndezi ikuku,  nke ga-enyere ha aka belata mmetụta okpomọkụ. N'ụbọchị 24 nke ọnwa Maachị, Minista na-ahụ maka Ike, Adebayo Adelabu, rịọrọ ndị Naịjiria  maka nkwụsị ọkụ eletrik na-eme ugboro ugboro.

Adesewa Popoola, bụ onye ọchụnta ego bi na Legọọs, kọwara otú nsogbu ọkụ eletrik na-adịghị akwụsi ike si mee ka ọnọdụ ahụ ka njọ.

I live in a neighbourhood where there is not much space between houses, and because there is no adequate ventilation in the houses in the area. I have noticed a significant change in the temperature pattern over the years. December is supposed to be the Harmattan season, when it might be hot during the day and cold during the evenings. But there was no Harmattan in Lagos throughout December and January. The temperature is always hot throughout the day. The heat has affected my work and daily life. There are times I need to go out and do some things. Once the time is past 10a.m. I won’t be able to go out, because of the extreme heat. I only go out when I am able to get a ride to my destinations. On many occasions, I have to wait till evenings when the heat has reduced before going out If I am unable to get a ride. 

If I have an appointment, I have to be mentally prepared for coping with the heat. It is also affecting the way I dress. I am unable to wear some of my clothes because of the heat. 

In order to cope with the heat, I stay indoors most times, bath as many times as I can, and drink water regularly.

About awareness, I think most people are not aware of the risks of the heat.

We all know the current situation of electricity in Nigeria. Due to epileptic nature of the power supply, it is difficult to cope with the heat, especially during nighttime when the heat is intense. Since there is no power, many people cannot turn on their fans. To make the matter worse, a lot of people cannot afford to buy fuel because of the hike in the price of fuel. It would have been easier to cope with the heat stress if the power supply is stable.

Ebi m n'ógbè ebe ụlọ dị nnọọ ibe ha nso, nke mere na ikuku anaghị abanye nke ọma n'ime ọtụtụ ụlọ dị n'ebe ahụ. Kemgbe ọtụtụ afọ, ahụla m nnukwu mgbanwe n'otu okpomọkụ si eme. A na-atụ anya na Disemba ga-abụ oge Ụgụrụ, mgbe ehihie nwere ike ịdị ọkụ ma mgbede na abalị bụrụ oge oyi. Ma na Legọs, n'ime ọnwa Disemba na Jenụwarị, Ụgụrụ apụtaghị ma ọlị. Kama nke ahụ, okpomọkụ na-adị elu ụbọchị dum. Oke okpomọkụ a emetụtala ọrụ m na ndụ m kwa ụbọchị. E nwere oge m chọrọ ịpụ gaa rụọ ụfọdụ ihe. Ma ozugbo elekere 10 nke ụtụtụ gafere, ọ na-esiri m ike ịpụ n'ihi oke okpomọkụ. Naanị mgbe m nwere ụgbọala ga-eburu m ebe m na-aga ka m na-apụ. Ọtụtụ mgbe, ọ bụrụ na enweghị m ụgbọala, ana m echere ruo mgbede mgbe okpomọkụ belatara tupu m pụọ.

Ọ bụrụ na m nwere oge a kara aka m ga-ezute mmadụ ma ọ bụ gaa ebe, aga m akwadebe uche m iji nagide oke okpomọkụ ahụ. Oke okpomọkụ a emetụtakwala ụdị uwe m na-eyi. Enweghị m ike iyi ụfọdụ uwe m n'ihi oke ajịjara.

Iji nagide oke okpomọkụ a, ana m anọkarị n'ime ụlọ, na-asa ahụ ọtụtụ ugboro o kwere mee, ma na-aṅụ mmiri mgbe niile ka ahụ m ghara ịkpọ nkụ.

Banyere mmata, echere m na ọtụtụ mmadụ amaghị ihe ize ndụ oke okpomọkụ nwere ike ibute.

Anyi niile maara ọnọdụ ọkụ eletrik dị ugbu a na Naịjirịa. N'ihi na ọkụ eletrik anaghị adịgide adịgide, ọ na-esiri ọtụtụ ndị ike ịnagide oke okpomọkụ, ọkachasị n'abalị mgbe okpomọkụ na-akawanye njọ. Ebe ọkụ eletrik adịghị, ọtụtụ ndị anaghị enwe ike gbanye igwe nye ikuku ha. Ihe na-eme ka ọnọdụ a ka njọ bụ na ọtụtụ ndị enweghị ike ịzụta mmanụ petrol n'ihi oke ịrị elu ọnụ ahịa ya. Ọ ga-adị mfe ịnagide nrụgide okpomọkụ ma ọ bụrụ na ọkụ eletrik na-adịgide adịgide.

Ihe na-akpata ebili okpomọkụ na ndụmọdụ

Ndị na-eme nyọcha kwuru na ihe na-akpata oke nrụgide okpomọkụ bụ mgbanwe ihu igwe.

Na mbido ọnwa Maachị, Ụlọ Ọrụ Na-Ahụ Maka Amụma Ihu Igwe Naịjiria (NIMET) wepụtara ọkwa ịdọ aka na ntị n'ofe mba ahụ, dọọ ọha na eze aka na ntị gbasara ihe egwu ahụike okpomọkụ nwere ike ibute n'akụkụ ụfọdụ nke mba ahụ. Ụlọ ọrụ ahụ dọkwara ọha na eze aka na ntị ka ha kpachapụ anya dị mkpa iji belata okpomọkụ ha. N'ozi ha bipụtara na X, NIMET gbara ndị Naijiria ume ka ha ṅụọ nnukwu mmiri ka ha nwee mmiri n'ahụ, nọrọ n'ime ụlọ nwere ikuku nke ọma ma ọ bụ nke nwere igwe ndezi ikuku, na-eyi akwa dị mfecha, uwe na-enwe nkute ikuku, na-eyi okpu, ugegbe anya mkpuchi anwụ, na ude mkpuchi anwụ. Ọ dụrụ ndị nne na nna ọdụ ka ha mee ka ụmụ ọhụrụ nọrọ ebe jụrụ oyi ma na-aṅụ mmiri, ma hara ịhapụkwa ụmụaka n'ụgbọala mechiri emechi nọ otu ebe.

Ndị mmadụ na-atụ anya na udu mmiri ga-amalite n'oge na-adịghị anya iji mee ka okpomọkụ belata.