'World isn't ending'
2006-03-27 08:33
Abuja - Against the backdrop of dangerous superstitious beliefs, the Nigerian government has embarked on massive public enlightenment on radio and television to educate Nigerians about the upcoming solar eclipse.
The eclipse is to be visible in 11 of Nigeria's 36 states on Wednesday, March 29, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation said.
A partial eclipse in 1989 led to massive demonstrations and violence in the country's predominantly Muslim north, where churches and hotels were set ablaze by fanatics to "atone for the sins of infidels."
A total of 28 persons were killed in the mayhem during the religious "cleansing" of the region.
Eclipse will last 10 minutes
"The solar eclipse is not an evil occurrence. It is not the end of the world. There is no need to panic. It is a wonderful expression of Nature," the ministry of information and national orientation said.
The solar eclipse is expected to last for 30 minutes from 09:15 to 09:45.
"The new moon is expected to pass between the earth and the sun in Nigeria on Wednesday, preventing the rays of the sun to reach the earth and turning daytime to darkness for a few minutes only," it added.
The total eclipse would be the fifth in Nigeria's history and would be experienced in Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states in the south and in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna and Sokoto states in the north.
Other towns and cities would witness partial eclipse of the sun, the government said.
It advised Nigeria to remain calm and not to look directly at the phenomenon with their naked eyes, but to use sun visors and special filters so as not to lose their retina and go blind.
- SAPA