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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.