No threat – Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake calls for calm as Abuja experiences earth tremor

The Federal Government has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to remain calm following an earth tremor that was recorded in parts of Abuja earlier this week.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the assurance while directing the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide him with hourly updates on seismic activity around the nation’s capital for continuous monitoring and, where necessary, escalation to relevant authorities.

According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Alake, who is currently in Washington, D.C., engaging with American investors on joint venture opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, said proactive measures have been put in place to safeguard lives and property. The NGSA reported that the tremor occurred at 11:23:27 a.m. on August 4 and was detected by its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako, Abuja.

According to the agency, the seismic event originated from a depth of approximately one kilometre and propagated over a distance of about four kilometres within five seconds. The agency classified the incident as a light seismic event, measuring between I and II on the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

In its assessment, the NGSA stated that the tremor posed no threat to lives or property, noting that such low-intensity events typically cause only minor ground shaking and temporary public concern rather than structural damage.

Alake encouraged residents of the FCT to continue their normal daily activities without fear, assuring the public that the NGSA would maintain close surveillance of the situation and provide regular updates as necessary. The government said it remains committed to monitoring seismic developments and ensuring the safety of residents while working with relevant agencies to respond promptly to any significant changes.