Some spirited Nigerians made brisk business from the partial eclipse of the sun that occurred in the country on Wednesday.
Many others were however indifferent to the solar power show, as they carried out their normal business.
It was a momentary period of mixed feelings across the country. In some states, schools and business were shut down temporarily for fear of the unknown, while in many others, people ignored the event.
In Enugu, residents shunned the much-talked-about solar eclipse choosing rather to concentrate on commercial activities.
The natural phenomenon was partially seen over the town around 10 am.
Our correspondents, who went round, observed that most residents were busy pursuing their livelihood and trying to recoup the loss from the stay-at-home directive of the government over the national headcount.
At Ogbete market, many people were oblivious of the eclipse as they went about their normal activities.
The situation was not different at Trans-Ekulu area; students did not show any excitement about the eclipse.
But some people were seen at Okoye Street, Uwani, using a welder�s eye- shield to view the eclipse.
They were passing the eye-shield on to one another while the event lasted.
The welder charged N20 fee per user.
In Minna, a middle aged man, Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf, used solar eclipse spectacles to make brisk business.
The partial eclipse, which occurred in Minna, between 9.50am and 10.45am, was experienced in almost all parts of the state.
The excited spectators at the UK Bello Arts Theatre Minna, venue of the opening of the 36th Annual Convention of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, paid Yusuf between N10 and N20 to watch the eclipse with his solar glasses.
Following an earlier warning on the danger of watching the solar eclipse with the naked eyes, the people were anxious to pay.
Yusuf, while speaking with our correspondents, said, �I must be frank with you, this is quite an experience. It is very interesting and a lifetime experience as this is my first time of watching this.�
The middle-aged man, however, refused to disclose to our correspondents how much he had been able to make.
At the Minna Central Market, our correspondents observed that business and commercial activities were temporarily crippled in the state capital as most traders were closing their shops out of fear, while most parents had to withdraw their children and wards from schools.
In Jos, a partial eclipse was observed.
Our correspondents who monitored the situation on Wednesday reported that by about 09.35 am, the sky changed, taking on a humid hue.
Though, it was not totally dark, the colour of the sky remained like that for a while before it finally cleared, giving way to a brighter hue.
Residents of Kano experienced a partial eclipse of the sun too.
Some residents filled containers with water to catch a glimpse of one of nature�s wonders.
The experience, which began at about 10.07am, lasted for about 12 minutes.
It was devoid of the rancorous spiritual interpretations, which greeted such occurrences in the past.
In Kazaure in nieghbouring Jigawa State, the eclipse was total.
It began at about 10.05am and ended about 10.40am.
Traders along the popular Ahmadu Bello Way and Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market closed their shops for business to avoid being caught in any untoward reaction by hoodlums who might want to cash in on the natural phenomenon to loot and cause chaos.
Several schoolchildren in the metropolis were also seen hurrying back home.
At Ilorin, some parents disallowed their children from going to schools because of the solar eclipse.
Some people also watched the reflection inside containers filled with water.
The eclipse of the sun would have passed unnoticed in Asaba, Delta State, but for the live broadcast of the celestial movement on television and the brief dull weather that enveloped the state capital.
Few people gathered in front of a television set at a local electronics repair shop to watch the live broadcast of the event.
By putting a bowl of water in the open and peeping into it, residents of Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday tried to catch a glimpse of the partial eclipse of the sun.
At about 10.15am workers, and residents trooped out of their offices and homes to witness the solar eclipse.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, wearing a pair of sunglasses, joined workers to watch the unusual celestial phenomenon at the Governor�s Office, Ado-Ekiti.
A partial eclipse had appeared in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State around 9.40 am when all of a sudden the atmosphere became cloudy, which lasted for almost 30 minutes.
However a total eclipse occurred for about three minutes at Saki, Tede and Sepeteri and other towns in the nine local government areas of the state around 10.20am, which was witnessed by the State Executive Council and tourists who had arrived at the state days before the event.
Some residents of Saki had remained indoors during the period over skepticism that the experience could bring doom.
Others had thronged the town stadium used as the site seeing venue, where the state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and members of the state executive council were gathered.
When the eclipse finally gave way for the sun around 11 am, people trooped out to resume their normal activities.
In Benin, at 9.50am, a certain shadow cast itself over the city.
Though the day did not particularly begin on a bright note, the sudden lull created by the shadow roused the curiosity of people at the NUJ Press Centre.
But the whole episode took just a few minutes and the haze was replaced with a bright sky powered by a blistering sun after the eclipse disappeared.
Not all the residents were aware of the short eclipse.
Some of the people that spoke with our correspondents were still wondering if the eclipse had occurred at all.
Dr. Moses Odaro, a former bank executive, told our correspondents that the first eclipse he witnessed was on the Empire Day, on May 24, 1947.
He said that as young school children they were on parade at the golf course, Benin to celebrate the Empire Day when the eclipse, without warning occurred, and everywhere went dark.
He said they all scampered home.
At home, he said their parents who were mainly Christians had already gone into prayers.
He said some of their parents were thanking God for finally bringing the world to an end, while others were praying for God to save them.