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Claim: A Facebook user, Ivan Jaw, has alleged on Facebook that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Sierra Leone issued a notice warning that the current weather is not West African Harmattan but an extreme form of air pollution dangerous to human health.
Verdict: Mary Sia Foyah, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency, has dismissed the claim, stating that the notice did not come from the EPA and is fake.
Full Text
A Facebook post by Ivan Jaw has gone viral, alarming many people online. The post claims to be an official notice from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Sierra Leone, advising citizens to take precautions against what it describes as “an extreme form of air pollution.” The post urges the public to take the information seriously, emphasising it is a reliable message from the EPA.
The post reads:
“This is an important notice from EPA, and we must follow it.
URGENT NOTICE!
URGENT NOTICE!!
URGENT NOTICE!!!
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has informed the public that the current weather in Sierra Leone is not a Harmattan but an extreme form of air pollution harmful to health.
This can cause:
- Reduced lung function
- Respiratory infections
- Inflammation
- Oxidative stress (which affects your body’s balance)
Please take the following precautions:
- Wear a nose mask
- Drink plenty of water
- Cover food and water to keep dust off
- Wash fruits thoroughly before eating
- Stay indoors as much as possible
- Use shea butter (ORI) on your body and hair, especially before bed
- Drink warm water regularly, especially for the elderly
- Avoid the sun during hot afternoons
- Don’t eat cold food in the morning, especially for the elderly
- Do not use air conditioning or fans at night; wait until morning to avoid catching a cold
- Keep your chest warm until noon
- Always wear a nose mask in public places and on motorcycles (okada)
This situation may last for a while, so please stay safe and share this information with others.”
The post has since gained significant attention and caused panic among some citizens. Given the potential for misinformation, DUBAWA decided to verify the claim.
Verification
DUBAWA contacted Mary Sia Foyah, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency. She unequivocally denied the post’s authenticity, labeling it fake and stating that the EPA did not issue such notice.
She explained, “That information did not come from the EPA. It is false. We have already released a public disclaimer to alert the public that this message is not from us.”
Mary Sia Foyah further cautioned the public against relying on unverified information on social media. She urged people to confirm such notices with the appropriate authorities before sharing or acting on them.
As part of the verification process, DUBAWA also reviewed other credible websites and platforms but did not see any report by the EPA.
Conclusion
The claim made by a Facebook user Ivan Jaw that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned about extreme air pollution instead of harmattan, is false.
The EPA has disclaimed the message, emphasising that it is fake and does not represent any official communication from the agency. To avoid panic, citizens must verify such claims with credible sources before spreading them.
