By Sule Lazarus (Yola)

Chinwedu Nnadozie (Minna)

Dele Moses (Ilorin) and

Onche Odeh (Lagos)

A lecturer in the department of geography, University of Ilorin, Paul Tokun Fabiyi, said there is “no cause for alarm because an eclipse happens from time to time. It has no negative environmental impact on the people”.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has said that there will be total eclipse in 11 States – Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto.

The rest of the country will witness partial eclipse.

Solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon which occurs when the moon comes between the sun and the earth.

The ministry advised the populace to protect their eyes with special filter glasses recommended by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)

Fabiyi explained that “every part of Nigeria will experience one form of eclipse or another but only the states along the centre line of the movement will witness total eclipse.

“In other words, the intensity of light will be deeper in the areas outside the centre line of the movement than in the areas on the center line”.

The eclipse would last between five and seven minutes.

It will also be visible in much of Asia, Turkey, and Brazil, with Libya experiencing the best and longest view.

Adamawa State has put security agents on red alert to deal with miscreants who may breach the peace during the event.

Information Commissioner, Kobis Ari Thimnu, said “some people would like to take advantage of confusion like this either to loot or to cause disaffection, and the government will not fold its arms and simply watch”.

An eclipse occurred in Nigeria in 1898, 1947, 1957 and 2001.

Niger State Meteorological Inspector, Abiodun Obaro, recalled that “in the olden days it was taking as a spiritual thing. However, an eclipse does not have effect on human beings or criminals neither does it have any effect on the weather, it is just like when you have a rainbow”.

Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) President, Gabriel Ogunmola, added that only Kishi and Shaki in Oyo State would experience total darkness, which “would last for a few minutes. There should be no reason for panic”.