Hydrologists allay fears of earthquake

The Association of Hydrologists in Nigeria has dismissed the claim that the two recent earth tremors in Abuja could trigger earthquake in the Federal Capital Territory and other states.

National President of the association Professor Ehidiamhen Charles Olumese told journalists on the sidelines of the international conference of the association in Minna on Tuesday that the claim of the possibility of earthquake especially by government officials was attention-seeking.

He said the “doomsday” prediction was not an outcome of deep scientific research, adding that those who came up with the postulations were not hydrologists who have the capacity and competence to arrive at such conclusion.

He said the incidents were mere earth movements which are normal occurrences.

“These incidents are minor they are not cause for concern, there should be no cause for alarm” , he noted.

He attributed the incidents to human activities saying “so many construction is going on in Abuja so many mining is going on if I use dynamite that blasting can cause accentuation, the tremors are not destructive”.

He said the government did not consult the association before raising the unnecessary alarm.

He said there had been similar incidents in Kaduna, Paiko in Niger state and Ijebu Ode in Ogun state in recent past. and that since then, nothing had happened in those areas.