Traders, market porters, construction workers and others earning a living outdoors in Kosofe have been urged to prepare for possible extreme heat under a Lagos State advisory calling for drinking water, shaded spaces and better ventilation.
The warning has practical implications for people working at Mile 12 Market, roadside businesses in Ketu and construction sites across the area, where spending less time outdoors may mean losing income.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged employers, market associations and community leaders to help protect those most exposed, alongside children, older people and pregnant women.
“Let us make access to clean drinking water, shaded spaces and proper ventilation a priority, especially for those who work outdoors and those most at risk,” he said.
Wahab linked the anticipated conditions to what he described as a strengthening El Niño climate pattern and the transition into the dry season. He warned that Lagos’s concentration of buildings and roads, combined with limited green spaces, could intensify heat in densely built neighbourhoods.
The advisory does not give expected temperatures, an onset date or a likely duration. It calls for early preparation rather than confirming that an extreme heat event is already affecting Kosofe.
Protection where people work
For outdoor workers, acting on the warning requires more than individual precautions. Market managers and employers can help by making drinking water accessible, providing shaded resting areas and allowing breaks during demanding work.
Where possible, strenuous tasks should be moved to cooler periods of the day. Residents should drink water regularly, wear light, loose clothing and reduce prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, in line with World Health Organization guidance.
Families should check on older relatives and neighbours living alone. Children should never be left in parked vehicles, even briefly.
Wahab also urged residents to avoid burning refuse, protect existing trees and preserve green spaces.
When to stop and seek help
Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, heavy sweating and muscle cramps can signal heat illness and should not be dismissed as ordinary tiredness after a shift.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should stop strenuous activity, move to a cooler place and begin cooling down. Confusion, collapse or loss of consciousness requires immediate emergency medical help. While help is being sought, move the person into shade and cool them with wet cloths.
Wahab said government would strengthen public awareness and work with relevant agencies to improve preparedness.
For Kosofe’s outdoor workers, the measure of that preparation will be practical: whether water, shade and opportunities to rest are available where they earn their living.