Ember Months in Nigeria

In Nigeria, what do “ember” months mean?  This refers to the last four months of the year, which all end with the five letters e-m-b-e-r.

The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, was founded to minimize the high rates of highway crashes in Nigeria. The commission, in its survey, realized that the high level of deaths on our highways is disproportionately higher during the period. Every year, when the ember months come, the FRSC steps up its battle to minimize the level of road crashes by embarking on awareness, through media channels.

In Nigeria, many prefer to spend Christmas in ancestral homes. Thus, there is often a high level of migration. Such migrations are most common to the people of the southeastern region of Nigeria. The roads are busier, thereby escalating the possibility of vehicular accidents. Aside from that, the high levels of migration present a window for motorists, who move people for money. They drive at horrific speeds to make as many trips as possible. As is often said though, speed kills.

Highway activities have, however, failed to account for a small proportion of the strange level of deaths often recorded only during the ember months. At the end of the year, people just want a total Christmas, one that even deviates from what Christmas is supposed to be about. There will be business partners who will rat on their colleagues. There will be men or women who believe in money-making through rituals. They will kill their victims leaving bizarre remains of the victim, after wrenching the eyes, tongues, and private parts of their victims.

The ember month period is a perilous period of the year when wise people are considerate of all that is pertinent.