Geological agency speaks on Abuja ‘quake’

premiumtimesng

Nigerians living around Mpape neighbourhood and other residential areas in Abuja should not be apprehensive about their safety, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency has said.

Alex Nwegbu, the director-general of the agency, said at a press briefing Friday afternoon that the tremors that Abuja residents experienced since Wednesday are not significant enough to be worried about, much less considering relocating.

“There is absolutely no cause for alarm,” Mr Nwegbu said. When tremor occurs, people may temporarily leave their homes, but should return shortly after it ends.

The official also said the agency was working to install newly purchased equipment to monitor seismic activities across the country.

Residents in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, as well as Maitama, Gwarinpa, Utako have reported experiencing the tremors.

He added that his agency has not been able to establish the cause of the latest tremors in Abuja, but that its officials are currently on the field investigating all immediately and remote causes.

We are also partnering with foreign organisations with advanced technical capabilities to help us understand what happened, Mr Nwegbu said.

The United States Geological Survey and similar authorities in France, China and other counties are amongst those providing assistance, he said.

Mr Nwegbu emphasised that there can not be an earthquake in Nigeria based on scientific information available to experts, saying the country is not situated in regions susceptible to earthquake or where earthquake could be expected to occur occasionally.

A similar tremor was felt in 1984 in Ijeno-Ode, southwest Nigeria, and the latest recorded incident occurred in Kaduna State a few years ago, Mr Nwegbu said.

Mr Nwegbu encouraged residents who have concerns or observations about tremors to reach the agency on the following lines:

08035956056
08023154825
08037000623.