The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has appealed to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to remain calm following the earth tremor recorded in parts of Abuja on Tuesday, assuring them that there is no immediate danger.
Alake also directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide him with hourly updates on seismic activities in and around the nation’s capital to enable continuous assessment and prompt communication with relevant authorities if necessary.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise.
According to the NGSA, the earth tremor occurred at 11:23:27 a.m. on August 4 and was detected by the agency’s Seismic Monitoring Station located in Utako, Abuja.
The agency said the tremor originated from a depth of approximately one kilometre and propagated across a distance of about four kilometres within five seconds, affecting a number of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory.
Although the minister is currently in Washington, D.C., where he is engaging prospective American investors on partnership opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, he urged Abuja residents to go about their normal activities without fear.
He assured Nigerians that the government is closely monitoring the situation and has activated the necessary mechanisms to safeguard lives and property.
The NGSA described the seismic event as a light earth tremor, measuring between Magnitude I and II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
According to the agency, tremors of this magnitude are common surface geological events and do not pose any significant threat to lives or infrastructure beyond the brief vibration that may cause anxiety among residents.
The agency added that it would continue to monitor seismic activities across the affected areas and provide timely updates should there be any change in the situation.
Alake reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring public safety, assuring residents that experts are closely tracking developments and that there is no cause for panic.
