With the challenge of having stable electricity supply proving difficult for Nigeria to overcome,the majority of Nigerians have taken to using generators as their major source of power supply. Not only families, but also companies and this has made generator sales a booming business in Nigeria.

The demand for cold drinks is always high so is the demand for public water via boreholes. Again,the barber on the street has to use generator to render services since the public power supply is, to say the least,unreliable. But then,almost everything comes with its own challenges and this is not an exception.

The generator, outside its loud noise pollution is a great threat to human life is not properly handled. The smoke from its exhaust pipe-rich in carbon monoxide which later changes to carbon dioxide- is very dangerous to the respiratory system of humans and when it gets into the human system consistently and unhindered over a long period of time not only chokes the person,but can also lead to death.

I am not happy to report that this has wiped out many families in Nigeria. I mean,families of 5,4,3 wiped out in a night owing to wrong use and positioning of the generator. Now,what happens is that some families position their generator in such a manner that the exhaust pipe is directed towards the window which channels all the smoke into the house and in most cases, the generator is allowed on  throughout the night hence saturating the rooms and indeed the inhabitants with smoke.

It has killed many families in Nigeria and there's even a recent case in Abeokuta Nigeria,where a family of five died in one night and generator fumes are being suspected to be the cause pending final autopsy by the police. So,this is a massive threat.

I have long identified this area as one that I need to do massive awareness on as most printing press and business centers in Nigeria are guilty of improper use of the generator.

As soon  as I finish my examination,which starts this week,I will start the awareness campaign immediately to help save more Nigerians from falling victim.

Photo Courtesy: Pulse Nigeria.