Heavy Vibrations in Mpape Spark Concerns Over Safety and Environmental Impact

By Ify Onyekwere

On September 17th, 2024, Mpape, a lively area in Abuja, Nigeria surrounded by rocks, was shaken by constant, loud vibrations which alarmed people in and out of the community. The heavy shake had been ongoing for a few days, but increased significantly on the said date and raised concerns. Some residents fled their homes, afraid that the heavy vibration was an indication of an approaching tragedy.

Chinedu, a long-time resident, recalled that this was not the first time such occurrences had plagued Mpape, with similar heavy vibrations which many believed to be tremors happening in the past. Another resident, Aminu, remained calm in the situation, saying, “I have seen it before and I am not scared because I know it will end, I was here when it happened beforein 2018.” His reassurance was not shared by everyone in the community, as the strong vibrations caused many to assume something more serious was going on.

Speaking to The Development Report, Engr. Kehinde Adeyemi, Executive Director of KadeyPrime Group Ltd., noted that Mpape’s vulnerability to such shocks as the recent one is due to the area’s geological instability and human activity. He also stressed that the district’s active quarries also make significant contributions.
“Earth tremors are extremely common in the Mpape neighbourhood of Abuja. Research in the past few years has identified causes such as rock blasting and exploratory activities, given the presence of at least 2 active quarries in the area, indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and unstable geological formation of the region. From an Engineering perspective, some of these highlighted causative factors are primary while others are secondary, that is, exacerbating root causes such as seismic activities” he stated.
Engr. Adeyemi emphasized the need for engineers and developers to account for seismic data when constructing in Mpape. “It is important that built industry practitioners pay attention to these factors,” he said while addressing the need for safety.

“Safety should be a paramount consideration in both design and construction processes in Mpape. By doing so the structural integrity of buildings would be safeguarded against future disturbances” he stated.

In a bid to understand if these constant vibrations were linked to climate change situations, The Development Report had a conversation with Timothy Ogenyi, Senior Climate Policy Analyst at the Society for Planet and Prosperity, and a research fellow at the Centre for Climate Change and Development at Alex Ekwueme Federal University in Ebonyi State. He started from the root by explaining that Nigeria’s contributions to the global effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions remain far below the targets set by the Paris Agreement. “Globally, the goals of the Paris Agreement are far from being reached, and Nigeria is among the 196 countries that made commitments to uphold them but is also far below achieving its targets,” Ogenyi noted.

Despite this, Ogenyi acknowledged some development at the national level as he stated that Nigeria has established major frameworks to indicate its commitment to combating climate change, including the Vision 2060 strategy, the National Climate Action framework, and flood and drought mitigation measures. However, the country’s most difficult task remains the implementation of these programs. “The problem with it all is implementation,” Ogenyi explained.

Ogenyi also pointed out that human activity continues to be a major driver of climate change. “Up to 80% of the climate change we are having is anthropocentric in nature,” he explained. Ogenyi revealed that the House of Representatives has set up a committee to investigate the events in the Mpape area of Nigeria, which he hopes would result in more informed and decisive action. He stated that political involvement is needed as he expressed optimism that the contribution from the house will result in substantial change. However, he cautioned that public education is critical. “One of the key things about mitigation measures is probably educating the people around them,” he stated, implying that raising community understanding could help lessen the negative impact of human activity on the environment.

Meanwhile, an information report that circulated on WhatsApp during the heat of the incident quoted a representative of the Nigeria Geophysical Survey Agency, who reassured residents that the vibrations were not signs of an earth tremor but rather high levels of vibration, likely resulting from blasting activities in the area. While this explanation offered some relief to the anxious residents, it also prompted deeper concerns about the long-term safety and sustainability of development in Mpape. The reassurances may have calmed immediate fears, but they left unresolved questions about the region’s vulnerability to future disturbances and the adequacy of regulatory oversight.

As the vibration discussions fade off in Mpape and attention shifts to larger climate difficulties, the events of September 17 serve as a reminder of the interdependence of local environmental issues and global climate change. From the heavy vibrations in Mpape, which are widely considered to be tremors, to Nigeria’s efforts to achieve international climate pledges, the way ahead will necessitate concerted efforts from all sectors of society. With ongoing political determination, public education, and sustainable development strategies, Nigeria has the potential to meet the challenge of reconciling industrial growth with environmental care.

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