Lokoja
Manufacturers of table water in Lokoja, capital of confluence kogi state said they had been smiling to banks due to improved sale of the commodity occasioned by the return of excessive heat in the area and it’s environs.
A correspondent of Duaglobalnews reports that lokoja is one states in the country with high record of intensive heat with 37 degree Celsius on Saturday.
The manufacturers, who spoke with the online outfit, on the condition of anonymity; for security reason, described their sales since heat began toward the end of January as tremendous and unprecedented.
“Though we are feeling the heat, we are however been compensated by the increase in the consumptionwater and consequently,in sale in pure water business. In fact, we cannot meet the demand of our numerous customers for now.”
” I may not disclose the actual gain I make per day, for security reason, what I know is that, God has been faithful to me and I thank Him sincerely for the quantum leap in my business for now”, one the manufacturers told the online media organisation.
Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Abdullahi and Emmuel Alabi, who hawk the commodity round the streets of Lokoja, confirmed the claim of the manufacturers, saying they had been making between N1,000 to N800 sale, with considerable gain per day in the business.
” I have been selling between N1,000 and N800 selling water per day since the return of heat in Lokoja and keep part of the proceeds to pay my school fees and take care of my self and one of younger one.
“Before the heat, we hawked pure water but hardly make up to N300 per day, but now, we thank God for improved sale,” Abdullahi said.
Medical experts who also spoke with Duaglobalnews, stressed the need for members of the public to consume adequate water to avoid heat related ailments.
Dr Alex Williams, a private medical practitioner said, “it behoves on members of the public to take enough water, to guard against the effect of the heat we are experiencing now in Lokoja.
“You know, the town is notorious for excessive heat at this time of the year,”he said.
According to him, prolonged or intensive exposure to hot temperature is capable of exposing people to diseases such as exhaustion, cramps, minigitis and stroke among others.
He called on residents to ensure that their houses were well ventilated, especially in the night, to allow enough air to the rooms.
The medical practitioner also called on Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to improve its services with increased hours of energy supply to energy consumers check the effect of heat.
Alhaji Usman Abubakar, a father of four children said, “We have abandoned our room in preference to sleep in front of our house in the night, as heat becomes unbearable.
“We have jettisoned the issue of insecurity as we sleep, though with one eye closed,”he said.
