By Emmanuel Sixtus
Background
Abuja, Nigeria— A strange phenomenon that left residents of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, speechless occurred recently. As it unsettled Nigerians and sent fear over the capital territory.
The Federal Government of Nigeria announced that it would start an investigation to find out what caused the earth tremor. The earth tremor shook through the Mpape area of the capital territory earlier this week; the tremor was recorded in some areas and not the entire capital territory.
The incident happened on a calm Tuesday night, a night devoid of guns, and as residents enjoyed the peace of the night, only to be jolted from their usual night as these tremors struck, causing quick reactions from emergency services and an outbreak of fear about possible seismic hazards.
Though the earth tremors considered mild, their effect was noticeably felt across the full-of-life Mpape district and its neighbouring locales. Many people were taken aback by the sudden vibrations and suddenly began to run out of their homes in tremendous panic. It was not the immediate tremors that bother them, but the potential of it turning into a major earthquake or more violent seismic upheavals.
In response to this disturbing experience, the federal government quickly assembled geologists and seismologists to find out what was behind the tremors. The government also pledged to give them the assistance they need to make sure the mystery behind the tremors is unravelled.
Preliminary findings say that the tremors are not usual, which points to the fact that something might be happening under the earth within Mpape that we are not aware of. The initial findings even further put the people in fear, because when there is a speculative answer, they don’t solve any problem.
Abuja is not known for earthquakes, and that further heightened the worries of the residents, who are desperately looking for answers to know what to expect next. Abuja since inception is deemed a low-risk zone for earthquakes. But recent happenings are now making it more susceptible to seismic events than previously thought.
A representative from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) noted that the ongoing investigations bankrolled by the federal government are looking in on the observation of subterranean tectonic movements through the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and seismological data, all in a bid to track down the tremors’ sources.
Going further, the NGSA suggests that, while the earth tremors were relatively small, they serve as a crucial awakening of the need for improved disaster readiness in Nigeria, a country that is still largely inexperienced in such a magnitude of potential disaster.
Resident reactions and emergency responses
The tremors left many people, especially those living in Mpape, shaken. A local hairdresser in Mpape who spoke to Dailytab24 clearly recounted her experience and the shock she went through.
“This tremor is the most terrifying experience of my life. I just relocated to Abuja last year to make ends meet, and experiencing this the second year is not encouraging. I am frankly thinking about leaving Abuja for a state I won’t experience such. I was already on the bed and long asleep when vibrations began, and I was confused initially and had to run outside because I didn’t know what was happening or where it was coming from. I only learnt it was an earth tremor a day after the incident,” she said.
Responding to increasing public concerns and fear, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) assured the residents that there is no danger of further seismic incidents while also advising the people to remain vigilant and prepared.
NEMA officials are now actively trying everything possible to manage the public fear and bring about calm in the federal capital territory. There is a rumour going around that the entire capital territory could be in danger of an earthquake. Distribution of educational materials has commenced to help citizens on how best to respond in the event of future tremors or related emergencies.
Seismic History in Nigeria
Nigeria has not recorded a major earthquake in its history; the natural disaster is rare in the country, but tremors have been reported in the past. In 2018, tremors of this same magnitude were documented in Abuja. The 2018 earthquake unsettled residents of Abuja, which gave rise to debates concerning the nation’s geological compactness.
Experts have been warning that, despite Nigeria’s significant space or distance from main fault lines, smaller intra-plate seismic activities could affect poorly constructed structures, residential high-rise buildings, and unprepared communities.
A geophysicist emphasised that, although Nigeria has mainly been classified as a low-risk region for seismic events, the recent tremors in Abuja in recent years underscore the urgency of revisiting national policies concerning building standards and emergency readiness.
The geophysicist also said the country should see the minor tremors as signals for rearranging and setting up the construction standard, as anything could change under the earth.
Next Steps
As Nigerians, especially the residents of Abuja, await official explanations, people with knowledge of seismic activities are pushing for enhanced monitoring and preparedness strategies.
The Federal Government is expected to make public a comprehensive report in the coming days or weeks, draughting its conclusions and recommendations to the country leadership, a conclusion grounded in seismological research and GNSS tracking data.
The federal ministry of mines and steel development is responsible for the investigation and has reportedly received the mobilisation it needed to successfully conclude the investigation. On the other hand, Nigerian meteorological agency {NiMet} continues to survey future occurrences to enable it to warn ahead of time.
Officials emphasise that there is no cause for alarm but encourage Abuja residents to remain alert and seek information from the right sources to avoid spreading unnecessary fear and adopt basic precautions.
Conclusion
The fear that an earthquake is possible in Abuja or the rumour that earth tremors are clear signs of a potential earthquake has been debunked by authorities. The authorities are confident that Nigeria is not close to seismic fault lines and cannot experience major earthquakes.
The tremors may continue to happen in the country, but it is not going to lead to a major earthquake. The fear of the public has been calmed by means of distributing educational materials that explain what tremors are and what the people should expect going forward.
