A video circulating in the media warns Nigerians to stay indoors for 3 to 5 days beginning April 8, 2024. The video, which originated on TikTok, has gone viral on social media platforms such as WhatsApp. The video, voiced by an AI, says:
“Three days of darkness will occur when the earth passes through the photon belt, this is as the earth enters and passes through this belt. There will be neither sunlight nor moonlight on the earth’s surface. Photons are electromagnetic particles that travel at the speed of light and will act as a temporary shield across the earth, preventing the light of the sun or the stars from passing through it. This is expected to last 72 hours, or five days. There are no breaks or periods of light during the three days, only darkness. Recommendations: stock up on food, water, candles, and other essential items. All sunlight will be blocked, and solar panels will not generate energy. Stay at home and avoid travelling for safety reasons. The sunlight will return to the earth, marking the beginning of the golden age.”
These claims have caused a frenzy of responses and fear on social media, with some Nigerians nearly resorting to panic buying and requesting time off for their staff members on those days.
Verification
The CDD War Room examined this claim and discovered that, in fact, there will be a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon entirely obscures the face of the Sun as it moves between the Earth and the Sun. The sky will darken as though it were dawn or dusk.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this unusual occurrence will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The duration of the eclipse, also known as the Great American Eclipse, is subject to location, however, the totality of the 2024 eclipse will last approximately 4 minutes and 9 seconds.
Will the solar eclipse affect Nigeria?
The CDD War Room spoke with Dr. Felix Ale, the National Space Research and Development Agency’s director of media and corporate communications. He stated that the 4-minute long eclipse will only affect the western part of the block, along the American axis, and not Africa. He explained that the sun will be directly overhead the equator, which this part of Africa faces. He said that there would be very little impact from the eclipse because it would occur during the night here in Africa.
Verdict:
Misleading.
The CDD War Room confirms that the solar eclipse will not impact Nigeria, and it will only last a couple of minutes on the western axis, not three days as claimed.
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