The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said that a solar eclipse would occur in Nigeria on Thursday, September 1, 2016, from 7:15am to 10:03am with slight differences in actual timing across the country.
In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale, the agency said it had made arrangements for centres to enable members of the public view the eclipse with the help of specially designed viewing instruments.
The agency warned that the eclipse should not be viewed with the naked eyes as doing so could cause permanent damage to the eyes.
“In Abuja, there will be a partial eclipse with an obscurity of 60% and the first contact will be at about 7:17am, with maximum eclipse at 8:32am and the last at 10:00am. Lagos will experience its first contact with the eclipse at 7:15am with a maximum eclipse at 8:32am and ending at about 10:00am,” the agency explained.
The agency said the eclipse is a natural occurrence predicted by science, and called on the public not to panic or attach any spiritual connotation to it.
