Contrary to previous indications, the presidential committee on the recent earth tremor in Abuja has said that earthquake has become a potential hazard in Nigeria.

The chairman of the committee and the Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof Seidu Mohammed, said this while presenting the report of the committee to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

In a statement made available to our correspondent at the end of the presentation by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Science and Technology, AbdulGaniyu Aminu, Mohammed said a study conducted by Julius Berger on the geological, hydrological and geotechnical investigation for Abuja identified Mpape as a shear zone that was weak with several fractures and faults system.

Mohammed said Nigeria was now prone to seismic hazards following a recent earthquake occurrence in Kwoi, Kaduna State; Saki, Oyo State and Ibgogene in Bayelsa State all in 2016.

The latest, he added, occurred on September 7, 2018, in Mpape, Abuja.

“Though these earthquakes may have been of low-magnitude, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation,” Mohammed was quoted to have said,

He added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer were 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 was not suitable, he 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 seism tectonic study using state-of-the-art equipment of the area and the entire country.

Responding, Onu said the Federal Government would conduct further research and monitor earthquake-prone areas in Abuja and other parts of the country so as to predict and forestall probable negative fallouts in the future.

Source:- Punchng