Nigeria not immune to Earthquakes – Scientist warns

A leading Nigerian geoscientist has warned that Nigeria is not entirely shielded from earthquakes, challenging the widely held belief that the country lies in a seismically stable zone.

While Nigeria is not located along any major tectonic plate boundaries—areas where most of the world’s earthquakes occur—the scientist emphasized that this does not rule out the possibility of minor or moderate seismic events. He cited recorded tremors in Kaduna, Abuja, and Bayelsa as evidence that underground stress and crustal movement do occur within the country, albeit infrequently.

“Although we’re unlikely to face the kind of large-scale earthquakes seen in places like Japan or Turkey, localized tremors can still cause serious damage—especially where buildings are poorly constructed,” he cautioned.

He stressed the urgency of developing a national earthquake monitoring and preparedness system, warning that Nigeria’s rapid urbanization, unregulated construction, and rising population density could amplify risks if a moderate quake were to strike.

Experts are now urging the government to prioritize investment in geological research, early warning systems, and public education campaigns. They argue that raising awareness and improving infrastructure resilience are crucial to minimizing damage in the event of future tremors.

The scientist concluded by calling on both policymakers and the public to take seismic safety seriously, noting that factors like climate change and underground resource extraction may further influence the region’s geological stability.