On Tuesday, an earth tremor struck parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, prompting the Federal Government to activate enhanced seismic monitoring while assuring residents that the event posed no threat to lives or property.
Following the incident, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to deliver hourly updates on seismic activity near the nation’s capital for continuous assessment and potential escalation to relevant emergency bodies.
The directive followed an NGSA report confirming that occupants in several Abuja buildings felt the tremor on Tuesday, August 4, though scientific evaluation classified it as a minor seismic event.
In a Wednesday statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Minister Dele Alake—currently in Washington, D.C. meeting with U.S. investors on joint ventures in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector—also urged residents not to panic.
He assured locals that government agencies were closely monitoring the situation and had already taken preemptive steps to safeguard lives and property.
The statement disclosed that the NGSA’s Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the tremor at 11:23:27 a.m., with data showing the movement originated at a depth of one kilometer and covered four kilometers in five seconds
In response to the tremor, Alake directed the agency to step up seismic monitoring across the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.
According to the statement, the minister instructed the NGSA to submit hourly updates on any new seismic activity for his continuous evaluation and swift escalation to relevant government bodies as needed.
He also reassured residents that there was no cause for alarm. He stated that the organization will continue to monitor the situation while locals went about their regular activities.
Backstory…
Although located outside major seismic hazard zones, Nigeria occasionally records minor earth tremors. To manage this, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency runs a nationwide station network that detects ground movements, offering rapid scientific evaluations to guide emergency responses and calm public anxiety.
As the nation’s primary geoscience body, the NGSA handles geological mapping, mineral exploration, geophysical surveys, and seismic tracking across the country. The agency relies on its monitoring infrastructure to analyze tectonic activity and generate insights that strengthen disaster preparedness and public safety.
Though situated away from major global earthquake belts, Nigeria still experiences occasional mild tremors. The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency operates a national network of seismic monitoring stations to detect these occurrences, providing timely assessments that inform emergency responses and reassure the public.
As the country’s premier geoscience institution, the NGSA oversees geological mapping, mineral exploration, geophysical surveys, and seismic tracking across Nigeria. Its monitoring network tracks ground activity and delivers data-driven insights to reinforce disaster readiness and public safety.
