2 months ago
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The Federal Government, on Wednesday, urged residents of Mpape and other suburbs affected by the recent earth tremors not to panic.
The government stated that moderate seismic movements have no direct link to earthquakes.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Matthew Adepoju, at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
The tremors, which occurred two days ago, threw residents of Mpape, Maitama, and other suburbs into confusion, with reports of six to eight seismic movements being detected.
But Adepoju insisted that people in the area should avoid panic, saying the situation is under control.
The space scientist also disclosed that quarry workers and excavators working in the affected areas have been ordered to suspend their activities.
He said, “It has not reached the stage of panic yet. We want
to assure the people of Mpape and Abuja that the earth tremors we experienced are not the type that can cause earthquakes. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates.
“Again, earth tremors are not unique to Nigeria. This is a global phenomenon. Unlike the tsunami that occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, the tremors we are experiencing here are minor and have nothing to do with earthquakes.
“Regarding drilling, excavation, and blasting of rocks, we have been reliably informed that these activities have been halted in the affected areas. This is a commendable action by the FCT administration, and we encourage them to continue to prevent further aggravation of the seismic activities. Human activities can indeed impact seismic conditions.”
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, also shared a similar sentiment, saying all efforts are being made to avert any disaster.
“Many may recall that Mpape experienced a similar sequence of earth tremors from September 5 to 7, 2018, which drew significant local and international attention to Nigeria’s increasing seismic activity. The recent tremors were accompanied by loud noises and ground shaking, causing widespread alarm among the residents of Mpape.
“In response, the government is currently processing and analysing comprehensive datasets from its Seismological and GNSS stations to provide relevant recommendations to the FCT Administration.
“We urge the residents of Mpape, and by extension the wider Abuja area, to remain calm and continue their normal activities. NASRDA is closely monitoring the situation and will soon implement measures to mitigate seismic risks,” Nnaji assured.
