Abuja Earth Tremor: Alake Urges Calm

…Orders Hourly Seismic Updates

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, assuring that the incident poses no threat to lives or property.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, the minister said he had directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide him with hourly updates on seismic developments in and around Abuja for continuous assessment and, where necessary, escalation to relevant government agencies.

Alake, who is currently in Washington, D.C., United States, engaging American investors on joint venture opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, said the government had already activated proactive measures to ensure the safety of residents and public infrastructure.

The minister’s directive followed an alert from the NGSA, which reported that an earth tremor shook several buildings in Abuja on Tuesday, August 4. According to the agency, its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the tremor at exactly 11:23:27 a.m.

The NGSA disclosed that the tremor originated from a depth of one kilometre and travelled about four kilometres within five seconds. It classified the incident as a light seismic event, measuring between I and II on the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

The agency explained that the tremor was a typical surface earth movement that posed no danger to lives or property, noting that its primary effects were temporary shaking and public anxiety.

Alake reiterated that the NGSA would continue to closely monitor the situation and urged Abuja residents to continue with their normal daily activities without fear, assuring that the government remains vigilant and prepared to respond to any developments.