There is no cause for panic. Residents should continue with their normal daily activities while relevant agencies closely monitor the situation and ensure public safety
By Moses Okorie
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has ordered the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide hourly reports on seismic activity following Tuesday’s earth tremor in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The directive followed reports by the NGSA that a mild seismic event was recorded in Abuja, with tremors felt around some buildings in the nation’s capital.
The minister’s directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lara Owoeye-Wise.
Alake, who is currently in Washington, D.C., where he is engaging potential American investors on mining partnerships, assured residents that there was no immediate threat to public safety and urged them to remain calm.
He said government agencies were actively monitoring the situation and had put precautionary measures in place to safeguard lives and property.
“There is no cause for panic. Residents should continue with their normal daily activities while relevant agencies closely monitor the situation and ensure public safety,” the minister said.
To strengthen surveillance, Alake directed the NGSA to submit hourly situation reports to enable continuous assessment of seismic developments and facilitate prompt action if necessary.
He added that the agency would continue to monitor seismic activity across the affected areas and keep both the government and the public informed of any significant changes.
The NGSA said its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the tremor at exactly 11:23:27 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to the agency, the seismic event originated at a depth of one kilometre and travelled about four kilometres within five seconds.
It classified the tremor as a light seismic occurrence, measuring between Levels I and II on the Mercalli Intensity Scale, indicating that the event posed no immediate danger.
The agency nevertheless emphasised the need for continuous observation and increased public awareness, noting that routine monitoring remains essential to ensuring early detection of any unusual seismic activity.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the country’s seismic monitoring system, with the Federal Government reaffirming its commitment to maintaining close surveillance and providing timely updates to residents as the situation evolves.