Nigeria now prone to earth tremor ― Report

THE Presidential Committee recently set up by the Federal Government on earth tremor, on Thursday, submitted its report with the confirmation that the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in the country.

It said currently, there were about 110, 000 boreholes within the Abuja metropolis with about 330, 000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily, and this is not sustainable.

Submitting the report to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, in Abuja, the Chairman of the committee and Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Professor Seidu Haruna Mohammed, said based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, the committee could confirm the recurrence in near future.

According to him, the available seismic records from 1919 to 2018 showed that Nigeria experienced seismic (tremor) in the past. Although, the affected areas have been relatively stable until recently. Nigeria is now to seismic hazards following recent earthquake occurrences in Kwoi, Kaduna State (2016); Saki, Oyo State (2016); and Igbogene in Bayelsa State (2016).

“The latest occurred on September 7, 2018, in Abuja with Mpape as epicentre. Though these earthquakes may have of low-magnitude, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation,” he stated.

He said the spots and locations identified and considered as earthquake-prone areas in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general needed to be further studied and continuously monitored, saying there was no need to carry out detailed vulnerability studies of the identified seismic hot spots in Nigeria.

The committee chairman said, among other recommendations, that ecological funds should be released very urgently for Earthquake Monitoring and Hazard Assessment in Nigerian, and there was the need to regulate the exploration of groundwater resources of Abuja via indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because this has been the primary reason for the stress build-up leading to the Abuja tremor of September 5-7, 2018.

Professor Mohammed emphasized that the Federal Government should take proactive and not reactive measures; empower relevant research agencies mandated to carry studies into the remote causes of the tremor and proffer solutions and procurement and installation of more seismometers, ground-based magnetometers and GPS sensors/equipment for the enlargement and networking of the Nigeria National Network of Seismographic Stations.

The chairman said the committee further recommended: “further detailed seismotectonic study using state-of-art equipment of the area and by extension, the entire country is recommended.

“Presently, there is no Nigerian code of practice that covers Nigerian Seismic building code, stressing that there is an urgent need to establish the Nigerian standard for the seismic building code. An agency such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) should be given the responsibility with budgetary allocations provided.

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“Detailed Microzonation (Site response to earthquakes and vulnerability studies for structures) and Seismic Hazard Assessment for the entire country.

“An integrated study should be carried out to properly delineate the fault systems in the area while ensuring that buildings should be constructed with the right engineering design and materials on approved sites.

“Infrared satellite technology space magnetic data for earthquake monitoring is showing ‘more prospect. It is advised that this technology must be adopted and funded adequately.

“Government should release fund for the training of Geophysicist, Geologists, Engineers, Technologists and researchers to participate in earth science research, in order to improve our understanding of Nigeria and West African geophysics and tectonic dynamism. We emphasize that this research has crucial societal value as it is evident in earthquake hazard readiness and mitigation.” The committee submitted in its presentation delivered by the chairman.

In his response, the minister, Dr Onu, who received it on behalf of the Federal Government, however, allayed the fears of Nigerians, particularly Abuja residents not to be panic about the recent incident, saying thorough research would be conducted to make sure it was curbed.

Dr Onu, who promised that government would intensify more efforts to curb future occurrences, however, appealed to the committee to continue its sitting proffer more solutions to forestall future incident.

It would be recalled that anxiety had gripped residents of Mpape, Jayi, Gwarimpa, Maitama, as well as Wuse and Katampe, all in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), when they felt the impacts of the earth tremor.