As Nigeria ‘comes out of recession’, there seems to be some bewilderment as to why this new advantageous economic state is not reflecting in our dining table, the local market-place or beer parlour. While ordinary Nigerians are more concerned with how the country’s newly augmented GDP will pay their owed salaries, the political heavyweights sense in this uncertain state an opportunity to score cheap political points. Recession ends when every Nigerian can eat three times a day, sings Atiku- in what is by all indications the perfect melody to the ears of starving Nigerians. Will the music fall on deaf or attentive ears? Only time will tell.

What does it mean to come out of recession? Atiku was, of course, right to place an emphasis on ‘poor’ Nigerians in his attempt to define ‘coming out of recession’, as these are the people who feel the full weight of recession in Nigeria. Even though the presidential aspirant was also right in highlighting the role played by food in determining a people’s emancipation from economic recession, I think it’s equally important to emphasize the role played by comfort in ensuring the economic well-being of a people.

Human beings are a comfort-seeking creature – who, when given the opportunity, will interact with their environment to achieve a level of comfort they desire. This level of comfort is dynamic, which means, if their environmental conditions change, their instinct will lead them to find a new level of comfort which they feel they need. Some researchers use the term ‘thermal comfort’ to indicate the degree of human satisfaction with their immediate setting. The level of thermal comfort of a human being can be different from others. Based on research conducted on humans from every part of the world, an average Japanese citizen is comfortable with the temperature in his house which ranges from 18-28C (figures considered as ‘normal’ for human beings); but it is found that there are some parts of the world where human can withstand extreme cold temperature of 10C (e.g. Europe and North America) or extreme hot temperature of 35C. (e.g. Tropical countries like Nigeria)

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To regulate extreme temperature, and achieve their thermal comfort, various methods have been adapted by humans since time immemorial. The forms of interaction that humans have with their environment to achieve their thermal comfort, can be psychological, mechanical, social or cultural, depending on access to all kinds of assistance. Of all these forms, the most effective seems to be the mechanical- which attains thermal comfort for human beings by regulating climatic conditions with tools like the Air Conditioner (AC).

The main purpose of AC is to create comfort for human beings, and this comfort can lead to many other benefits. But in a country like Nigeria where the average employed graduate earns N50,000 a month, affording a N90,000 air conditioner is virtually impossible.

A person’s economic performance and happiness is closely related to the climatic conditions in which they live and work. Research argues that climate is the ‘enemy’ of economic efficiency and productivity; thus, it must be controlled. This is particularly important in a country like Nigeria where the temperature can climb up to 40C or more. Picture a young Nigerian Barrister renting, from his N40,000 monthly salary, a modest 1bed apartment with no AC. From frying pan to fire, he leaves his hot abode to a hotter workplace, the court of Law, clothed in gown and wig, sweating like a cockroach; only to come back to meet power failure in his hot abode.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of air conditioning in fostering economic performance and improving overall happiness in a tropical country. On this issue, the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, had the following to say:

‘Air conditioning was a most important invention for us, perhaps one of the signal inventions of history. It changed the nature of civilization by making development possible in the tropics. Without air-conditioning you can work only in the cool early-morning hours or at dusk. The first thing I did upon becoming prime minister was to install air conditioners in buildings where the civil service worked. This was key to public efficiency.’

Air conditioning is a necessity in the modern world. Does it occur to you that the first thing you feel when you come out of the plane at the Murtala Muhammed Airport is heat? Or that two of the most prominent signs of poverty in Nigeria are sweating and bad body odour caused by the inability to control perspiration. These things can be controlled by air conditioning. In 2017 when most countries have air conditioning in public buildings, it is not enough to put ceiling fans in ours, and then label this an ‘achievement’. We need to urge our leaders to stop celebrating mediocrity and start installing air conditioners in public buildings for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.


Femi can be reached at femiowolade@gmail.com

https://thebelltimes.com/recession-ends-every-nigerian-can-enjoy-benefits-air-conditioners-femi-owolade/

Lol... Point of correction, recession actually ends when all Nigerians can clutch Hushpuppy verified Gucci bags.