There have been reports of recent earth tremors experienced
in some parts of Abuja which made residents fear for their safety.
Few weeks ago, the director-general of the National
Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Alex Nsegbu, said Nigeria is not on the
boundary that can make the country suffer earthquake, but a new report by
the National Space Research and
Development Agency (NASRDA) has identified communities in four states and Abuja
as locations where major earthquake may likely occur in the country.
The Director General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed,
disclosed this on the sideline of the second Engr. Brig. Gen. M.O Agu (rtd)
Annual Distinguished Lecture in Abuja on Thursday.
Prof. Mohammed, who was also the chairman of presidential
committee on the Abuja tremor, said Mpape in Abuja, Kwoi in Kaduna, Ijebu-Ode
in Ogun, Shaki in Oyo and Igbogene in Bayelsa may likely be the epicentres of
major earthquake if precautions were not taken.
The erstwhile inactive faults system in the country are
gradually becoming active, he said, ‘’which now make earthquake likely’’ in and
around the country. A number of incidences in these locations, according to
him, is also a pointer to the fact that a big disaster may occur there, calling
on the Federal Government to do something fast to avert it.
He said analysis of a 100 year-old data done by the members
of the presidential committee on Abuja tremor showed that Mpape in Abuja is a
hotspot which is highly susceptible to earth tremor and other earth shakeups.
“What it means is that we need a thorough study across the
country to identify such hotspots so that we can constantly monitor them from
satellite system and from data from outer space’’, he said.
He said the high volume of water being taken out of over
110, 000 boreholes dug in Abuja is further making the situation in the capital
city worse. ‘’More than 330 metric tonnes of water being taken out every day in
Abuja is causing a vacuum; is straining the earth’’, he said.
He therefore urged the FG to take a look at indiscriminate
drilling of boreholes, calling on thorough regulation on earth drilling. He
also said engineers should now take cognizance of likely earth tremor when
designing and constructing buildings.
Last week, the Presidential Committee on Abuja Tremor said
Nigeria was now prone to seismic hazards, which make earthquake occurrence a
potential disaster to the country.
The committee disclosed that when it submitted the report of
its findings to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
‘’Nigeria is now prone to seismic hazards following recent earthquake
occurrences in Kwoi, Kaduna state, Saki, Oyo State and Igbogene in Bayelsa
State all in 2016. The latest occurred in September 7, 2018 in Mpape, Abuja’’it
said.
It said though ‘’these earthquakes may have been of
low-magnitude, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential
hazards to the nation’’.
The committee alluded to the report conducted by Julius
Berger on the geological, hydrological and geotechnical investigation for Abuja
which identified Mpape as a Shear zone that is weak with several fractures and
faults system.
It added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from
aquifer is causing hydrological instability along the fractures. The existence
of 110,000 boreholes within Abuja metropolis with about 330,000 metric tonnes
of water drilled daily is not suitable, it added.
In view of the challenges that hinder efficient forecasting,
detection and monitoring of earthquakes in Nigeria, the Committee recommended
the procurement and installation of more seismometers and GPS sensors/equipment
for the enlargement and networking of the Nigeria National Network of
Seismographic Stations.
The committee further recommended detailed Seismotectonic
study using State-of-the-art equipment in the area and the entire country.
