Lukman Abdulmalik
The spokesperson of Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, has appealed to the public to be careful and extra vigilant in dealing with fire in this harmattan season, especially those who have the habit of using charcoals to heat their rooms.
Abdullahi spoke to Stallion Times on the high demand and use of charcoal to heat rooms during harmattan season.
In Kano, Harmattan season begins in late November or early December and lasts until February and the temperatures range between 9°C (48°F) to 30°C (86°F).
The weather can affect skin and respiratory health, causing issues like cracked skin, dry eyes, and aggravated respiratory conditions such as asthma.
During this period, people use different methods to keep their bodies warm, this includes keeping their room temperature warm at night.
For safety reasons and fear of a fire outbreak, the fire department has advised the public to stop sleeping with charcoals in the room; it said if it is necessary when the room is warm, pour water on the charcoal to put it off.
In random interviews with some wholesalers and retailers of charcoal, Stallion Times discovered that despite the price increase, there is a high demand for it.
For instance, one of the dealers in the Panshekara section of Kumbotso LGA, Sabiu Salisu Ya’u, described the patronage as low compared to previous years due to the hike in price.
According to him, last year, daily, he used to offload a truck of charcoal which consisted of 400 bags but now.
“I usually get my charcoal supply from Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger, Bauchi, and Kwara State and sell to retailers.
“Currently a bag of charcoal is being sold at the rate of N8,000 against N4,500 which was sold between January to June 2024, while in 2023 a bag was N3,000 to N3,200.”
Salisu expresses that the charcoal business is lucrative because he has resorted to selling his charcoal mosquito coil and Incense stick companies.
“With the diversification of my business in a month I used to sell nothing less than 800 to 1000 bags of charcoal to various companies.”
He also said that sometimes losses are recorded especially while re-bagging charcoal.
Hussaina Musa, 29, a housewife at Mariri, told Stallion Times “No matter the price, using charcoal to warm my room has become a tradition every cold season.
“During harmattan, I do light to keep my room warm with charcoal heat from 6 pm to 7 am.
“I don’t put it off because I place it in a safe place so that it will not cause any problem.
“I enjoy sleeping with the charcoal heat because it makes my room warm and comfortable.”
In the Yakasai section of Kano Municipal, Amina Abdullahi, disclosed “These days, even with the high cost, I use charcoal for domestic purposes and to keep my room warm at night.”
However, a survivor of a recent fire outbreak caused by Charcoal in Dorayi, Gwale LGA, Maimuna Usman narrated her ordeal to Stallion Times.
“Around 2 am, I smelled smoke all over the room, before I could take action a fire outbreak had already occurred.
“It burnt most of the properties in the room, and one of my children also sustained a superficial burn.”
During harmattan, it is advisable to be cautious with fire and ensure they are not left unattended.
