Residents of Abuja living at Mpape in Bwari Area Council have been thrown into panic over continued suspected tremor and vibration in parts of the city.
Dr Ebenezer Adebisi, the Chairman, Mpape Hills Landlord Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the residents had been experiencing the vibration in the last five days.
Adebisi, who is a retired Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said that was not the first time the resident of the area were having such experience.
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He said although it happened some years ago, it had become more consistent in the past five days.
According to him, residents of the area felt the tremor and vibration were more than the usual ones they experience during the blasting of rocks in the area by quarry companies.
He said the vibration was more intense throughout Sunday and Monday night, adding that the, “we don’t really know what would have caused the vibration.
“I have also confirmed that those in Gwarinpa and Katampe areas are also experiencing the same thing, but the government has not said anything officially up till now.
“It is important we let Nigerians know the situation now; we are calling on the Nigerian government and the Nigeria Geological Agency to come to the rescue of the resident.
He said urgent measures needed to be taken before things got out of hand, urging the government to advise the residents on the next line of action.
Mrs Florence Ilesanmi, a resident of Gwari Village, Mpape also told NAN that she had been experiencing the same thing.
Madam Aisha Lawal, a resident at the Crushrock area of Mpape shared a similar experience with NAN, saying that the interval of the vibration was a source of worry.
An official Nigerian Geological Survey Agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he not authorised to do so urged the residents to consider temporary relocation if the tremor continued.
The official told one of the residents that who contacted him that they residents should continue to record the frequency of the vibration.
“I ‘googled’ the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). They told me I should be recording anytime the vibration occurred again.
“I was able to speak with one of the officers of the agency, who confirmed that all their equipment are already on ground to forestall any emergency.
“They said if the vibration is heavy we should try and evacuate from the premises for now.
Previous Occurrences in Abuja
Previous Occurrences in AbujaAbuja has experienced several earth tremors in recent years. Notably, a significant earth tremor occurred in the Mpape community from September 5th to 7th, 2018. This tremor caused considerable alarm among residents and was attributed to fault movements within the upper crust. Another tremor was reported in the same Mpape area in 2021, causing similar concerns. These events highlight the region’s susceptibility to seismic activities, despite Nigeria being generally considered an aseismic zone.
What Causes Earth Tremors in Abuja?
Nigeria lies far from the major earthquake zones, and its seismic history is relatively quiet compared to regions like the Pacific Ring of Fire or areas near tectonic plate boundaries. However, earth tremors can still occur due to various factors. In the case of Abuja, experts have suggested that the tremors could be a result of minor movements in fault lines within the Earth’s crust or the activities of underground water reservoirs.
Human activities such as construction, drilling, and mining could also exacerbate underlying natural causes. Abuja’s rapid urban development, with large-scale projects and infrastructure expansion, may play a role in disturbing the earth’s balance. Experts have pointed out that it’s critical for authorities to conduct detailed geological surveys to identify the specific causes and to prevent future occurrences that could have catastrophic effects.
