Reps mandate NEMA to probe FCT earth tremor

The House of Representatives has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to conduct a thorough assessment of the potential hazards of the recent earth tremor in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and develop immediate safety measures.

In an urgent motion yesterday, House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, raised concerns about the unusual seismic activities in the nation’s capital, citing media reports and complaints from various districts, including the Mpape area.

Over the past week, a series of earth tremors have been reported in some parts of Maitama, Katampe and Mpape areas. Tremors are small, mild shaking or vibration of the ground, often caused by minor movements in the earth’s crust.

It could be recalled 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 noises and ground shaking, causing anxiety among residents. Chinda emphasised the importance of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a symbol of Nigeria’s social integrity, stability and strength, and expressed worries about the lack of conclusive explanations for the tremors.

He highlighted the growing fears among residents that the natural disaster could be a precursor to more severe seismic events, potentially causing significant structural damage to the territory’s infrastructure.

The Minority Leader stressed that despite ongoing investigations, there is yet to be any conclusive explanation for the occurrences. While the FCT is not generally known for being a seismic hotspot, Chinda acknowledged that certain regions within the territory have experienced climate-related tremors in the past.

This, he said, underscored the need for proactive measures to prevent potential disasters. Consequently, the House mandated its Committees on FCT, Environment and Emergency Disaster Preparedness to investigate the cause of the tremors and propose necessary legislative actions.