Federal Government has launched an Earthquake Monitoring Command and Control Centre in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, following the recent earth tremors around Abuja which occurred in September and November respectively.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, who was present at the commissioning by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, Yesterday in Abuja, said a 4-station Abuja network has been put in place to have a closer and more effective over sight of the FCT.
“The 4-station triangulation network located at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada and Veritas University, Bwari and the NGSA command and control centre at the NGSA HQ, Abuja are being installed.” He said.
The Minister however noted that the tremors evoked a lot of anxiety, especially among those living around Mpape and Maitama, but also accelerated the robust plan by government to establish the necessary geo-scientific infrastructure to monitor and mitigate all aspects of both natural and anthropogenic hazards.
“Indeed, the Fed. Govt. has since set up an inter-ministerial committee to fashion out a common front in tackling the challenge of earth tremors in Nigeria, which has become uncomfortably more frequent than expected.
“The various stakeholders here present; the Ministry of Science and Technology, NEMA, the FCT and University of Ife Seismic team and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency among others have all had meaningful contributions towards understanding the mechanism of what we are faced with in recent times.
“Today’s activity therefore represents the implementation of some aspects of the Committee’s recommendations i.e. the improvement on the network of seismographic stations across the country. Originally, NGSA designed a six station seismic monitors to be deployed across the country. He said.
Bwari noted that the Ministry will be conducting an airborne magnetic survey over Abuja to ascertain in greater detail the fracture systems that predisposes FCT to tremors.
he said the whole initiative could not have been possible without the excellent collaboration between NGSA and our sister institutions that were mentioned earlier. “They have volunteered to host some of our seismic stations and this gesture deserves our commendations.
“The result of this high density seismic configuration cover of Abuja will not only enable NGSA quantify the magnitude of the tremors but will also more accurately locate the epicentre of tremors/earthquakes as well as improve the predictive capacity of our network.
“It is therefore my pleasure to commission the NGSA Earthquake monitoring command and control centre at the Agency’s HQ, Abuja while expecting the completion of the other three stations within a very short time.
“I commend Nigerians for being more vigilant about their environment and assure them that government will continue to respond swiftly to assuage their fears.” Bwari added.
Bayelsa Assembly approves mid term expenditure policy
By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
Bsyelsa State House of Assembly yesterday approved mid term expenditure and fiscal policy paper for 2019 and 2021 as requested by Governor Seriake Dickson.
The house also granted the request by the Gov Dickson to appoints additional 40 special advisers to the state government to bring the total number of advisers to 100.
Leader of the house, Dr Peter Akpe, while moving the motion for the approval of the medium term expenditure, said that the approval is in accordance with existing fiscal responsibility law of 2009, which takes care of income inflow, expenditure and inflation for the next three years.
Also, a member representing Southern Ijaw constituency II, Mr Monday Obolo and his Southern Ijaw constituency III counterpart, Mr Balarade Igali, expressed concerned over the of sectoral performances, budget implementation to avoid budget deficit.
