Nigerians await solar eclipse today

Nigerians on Saturday said they were
awaiting the annular solar eclipse, which
would be seen in various parts of the
world, including Nigeria today.
The Nigerians, who spoke to SUNDAY
PUNCH from different parts of the
country, said they would not miss the
opportunity of viewing the eclipse.
A Lagos-based photographer, Emmanuel
Arewa, said he had decided to go out with
his camera to take a photograph of the
eclipse.
“When the last eclipse happened in
Nigeria, I was not into photography. I was
in school then. If I remember what
happened then, I regret not taking
photographs of it. So, this time around, I
will go out with my camera because I
must not miss a shot of it,” he said.
Mr. Marcel Egbuta, a banker, who is
based in Mubi, Taraba State, told
SUNDAY PUNCH that he and most people
in the state would watch the eclipse.
He said, “We are not aware of it. We are
still trying to ensure that we are secure
from attacks. But now that you have told
me, I will tell my people and we will watch
out for it.”
An Enugu-based banker, Ngozi
Nwachukwu, said she heard about it but
did not know that it could be viewed in
Nigeria.
According to www.timeanddate.com ,
partial eclipse will be visible in Lagos by
12:50pm, when the moon would touch the
edge of the sun.
It added that by 2:32pm, maximum
eclipse would occur and the moon would
be seen closest to the centre of the sun,
and another partial eclipse by 4:01pm,
when the moon would leave the edge of
the sun.
The website also stated other dates when
eclipse would be visible from Lagos,
including April 15, 2014, (total lunar
eclipse), October 8, 2014 (total lunar
eclipse), April 4, 2015 (partial lunar
eclipse) and September 28, 2015 (total
lunar eclipse).
According to www.earthsky.org, proper
eye protection is needed to view the
eclipse.