The Federal Government has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to remain calm and go about their daily routines following a mild earth tremor that shook parts of Abuja on Tuesday.
To closely track the situation, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has ordered the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to issue hourly updates on seismic developments across the FCT for continuous review and potential inter-agency coordination.
The minister’s directive followed an alert by the NGSA reporting that tremors shook several structures in the capital city at exactly 11:23:27 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4.
According to data captured by the NGSA Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako, the event originated at a depth of 1 kilometer and traveled across a four-kilometer radius within five seconds.
Speaking from Washington D.C., United States-where he is currently holding investment talks with American joint-venture partners- Alake reassured the public that comprehensive safety protocols are in place. He urged citizens to stay composed while experts monitor the earth movements.
‘Residents of the Federal Capital should go about their normal routines without anxiety. Proactive measures have been deployed to ensure the safety of residents and properties,’ Minister Alake stated, through a press statement issued on Wednesday night by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise.
Downplaying fears of structural damage or casualties, the NGSA classified the tremor as a minor geological event, assessing it at a magnitude of I to II on the Mercalli scale.
‘This is a characteristic feature of a surface earth tremor that poses no threat to lives and properties except for the discomfort of the shake and fear of possible destruction,’ the agency clarified in its assessment report.
The ministry affirmed that the NGSA will maintain round-the-clock surveillance over the area, with further safety updates to be released if necessary.