ABUJA EARTH TREMORS AND MATTERS ARISING

The Nigerian government has called for heightened vigilance in earthquake-prone areas after a series of tremors rattled the capital city of Abuja. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, reassured residents that these minor surface tremors pose no immediate danger to safety or property. However, he directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to compile hourly updates on seismic activity around the nation's capital.

The discovery of a 2018 report by a Presidential Committee, headed by Seidu Mohammed, revealed that Nigeria is indeed susceptible to seismic hazards. The committee found that Abuja's Mpape area, which experienced tremors in September 2018, had already experienced shifts in its underlying rock layers due to unregulated drilling and blasting activities. This weak and fractured ground system suggests that the tremors were a result of human activities rather than natural causes.

While the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and other emergency agencies have downplayed the likelihood of earthquakes in Nigeria, the Presidential Committee's findings paint a more concerning picture. The committee recommended stricter regulation of groundwater extraction, as excessive drilling has contributed to the stress build-up leading to these tremors. Unfortunately, prior to the report, many Nigerians had remained in denial about the country's seismic risk.

The lack of action to address these issues could have devastating consequences, as earthquakes can cause significant human, material, and economic losses. The report warns of the potential ramifications of ignoring the Presidential Committee's findings. To mitigate these risks, the Geological Survey Agency should enforce laws against reckless mining, rock blasting, and excessive borehole drilling.

Emergency agencies nationwide should also provide safety training to communities prone to tremors, emphasizing the importance of knowing how to respond during an emergency.