The Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Year 2026 Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE), Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, has explained the possible geological factors behind the recent earth tremor recorded in Abuja.
He spoke on Friday in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists at a press briefing organised by NAEGE ahead of its 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to hold from September 14 to 16, 2026, at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja.
He said the tremor was monitored through seismic stations, including the NGSA station in Abuja, where the occurrence was recorded and analysed.
The Director-General said the agency had provided scientific explanations to residents to reduce fears following the incident, which he described as being of low intensity.
He stated, “We allay the fear of the community of Abuja with respect to the occurrence because of the low intensity or the magnitude as the case may be, which was taken from our record there in Abuja office, from our seismometer here.”
The NGSA boss explained that although Nigeria is situated on a relatively stable geological formation and is generally not prone to major earthquakes, movements and deformative activities within the subsurface can still produce tremors.
He noted that the agency was able to identify the source, epicentre and focal point of the recent occurrence through its monitoring systems.
He also observed that some tremors recorded in Nigeria have occurred around August and September, coinciding with the rainy season. He explained that increased water within existing fractures in rocks could cause changes in the subsurface and contribute to geological adjustments that are detected as tremors.
According to him, the magnitude of such movements determines their possible effect on infrastructure, making it important to understand the geological conditions of sites before construction.
He said, “There is a need for us to understand the condition of the materials where our infrastructure are placed, so that we’ll be able to advise correctly whether the material or those areas actually suit those structures or not, or how to reinforce those structures before they are placed.”
Ige’s comments highlighted the importance of geological investigations in infrastructure development, particularly in determining the suitability and strength of the subsurface before roads, buildings and other structures are constructed.
He said the issue would form part of the broader discussions at the NAEGE conference, which is expected to bring together geologists, engineers, architects, builders, contractors, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders.
The conference, with the them, “Geoinformation for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Developing Nation Like Our Own, for Smart Cities,” is aimed at promoting greater collaboration among professionals and advancing the use of geoscience information in the development of safe, resilient and sustainable cities.
