The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has commissioned the National Seismic Monitoring Station 5 in Katampe, Abuja, in a decisive move aimed at enhancing safety in Abuja and across the country.
During the commissioning ceremony in Abuja, the Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake emphasised that the establishment of seismic monitoring stations aligns with the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerians. Referring to past incidents of unexpected earth tremors, he stated, “What we need to do is to keep expanding the frontier of our knowledge, make arrangements to mitigate natural disasters, and safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians.”
Alake highlighted the pivotal role of the newly commissioned National Seismic Monitoring Station at Katampe, built by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), in detecting and monitoring future occurrences of earthquakes and tremors in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He expressed satisfaction with the government’s initiatives, stating, “Government is prepared to support any act of creativity from whichever side as long as it is proffering solutions to problems of our environment”.
The minister further detailed the locations of the seismic monitoring stations, including the University of Abuja Gwagwalada, Nasarawa State University Keffi and Veritas University Bwari, with the centre at NGSA headquarters Utako (Abuja). Additional stations are situated in NGSA offices in Kaduna and Ilorin. According to Alake, these stations will significantly contribute to the detection and monitoring of earthquakes and tremors, thereby enhancing the overall safety in the FCT.
Commending the collaborative efforts between NGSA and the University of Abuja for bringing the seismic project to fruition, Alake expressed elation that the project will contribute to mitigating the effects of global climate change. He emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting innovative measures aimed at improving the living standards of Nigerians.
In a statement by the ministry’s deputy director of information and public relations, Alaba Balogun, Alake extended his commendation to all sectors of national life, highlighting the ministry’s dedication to monitoring seismic tremors across Nigeria. He stressed that the government’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda covers all aspects of human endeavour.
“We are extending the frontiers of knowledge. Even in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, when we came in, we rolled out the seven-point agenda covering all aspects of solid minerals. The first thing we did is to put the solid minerals of Nigeria on the global map by marketing the potentials we have in Nigeria to the investing world,” Alake enthused.
Addressing the significance of robust seismic monitoring capabilities, the director-general of NGSA, Dr. Abdul Garba stated, “A robust seismic monitoring capability aligns with the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, involving sustainable development through the integration of technology, innovation and strategic planning to create an environment that is efficient, resilient, and responsive to the needs of the nation.”
