The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has assured Abuja residents that the earth tremor recorded in parts of the Federal Capital Territory on August 4 has completely subsided, saying there is no ongoing seismic activity or threat to lives and property.
The agency said more than five days of continuous monitoring, technical analysis and physical assessment revealed no structural damage or continuing tremor activity following the incident.
Director-General of NGSA, Prof. Olusegun Ige, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja during a technical briefing with journalists.
Ige disclosed that the agency’s seismic monitoring station in Utako detected the tremor at 11:23:27 a.m. on August 4, with the event lasting about five seconds and originating from a depth of less than one kilometre.
He described the incident as a low-energy, transient micro-event characterised by low amplitude and very short duration.
“Our message to residents of Abuja is clear: there is no cause for alarm. The tremor was a very low-energy, isolated event, and our monitoring has confirmed that the seismic activity has completely subsided,” he said.
The development followed a directive by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, for the NGSA to provide him with hourly updates on seismic developments around Abuja for possible escalation to relevant government agencies.
Ige said the agency did not stop monitoring after recording the tremor, but maintained surveillance for more than five days.
He said waveform records throughout the monitoring period showed only baseline seismic noise, with no indication of continuing tremor activity.
The NGSA also carried out physical assessments at locations where the tremor was reportedly felt, including the Defence Intelligence Agency facility at Mambila Barracks, Asokoro, NNPC Towers and selected buildings within the Central Business District.
According to Ige, no structural damage, injury or serious discomfort attributable to the tremor was recorded at the locations inspected.
“We have combined instrumental monitoring with physical assessment on the ground. The evidence before us shows that there is no ongoing seismic threat and no structural damage arising from this event,” he said.
The agency explained that preliminary geological analysis suggested that the tremor may have resulted from the release of accumulated stresses within the earth’s crust through existing geological structures.
Ige noted that although Nigeria is not located on an active major tectonic plate boundary, geological stresses could occasionally be released through existing fault systems, resulting in localised seismic events.
He, however, said the characteristics of the August 4 incident did not suggest a destructive earthquake.
“The fact that a tremor was felt does not mean that a destructive earthquake is imminent. What matters is the nature and energy of the event. In this case, the energy released was extremely low and insufficient to cause structural failure or trigger secondary hazards,” he said.
To demonstrate its capacity to monitor seismic activities, the NGSA took journalists on a technical tour of its seismic monitoring operations.
The journalists were shown the agency’s monitoring equipment and how technical personnel detect, record and analyse seismic signals in real time. They also interacted with experts responsible for interpreting the data.
Ige said the demonstration was aimed at giving the public a clearer understanding of the scientific basis for the agency’s assessment.
“We want Nigerians to see that our assurance is based on evidence. The instruments recorded the event, our experts analysed the data, our field team inspected the affected locations, and we have continued to monitor the situation,” he said.
While declaring the Abuja incident over, the agency said it had exposed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for seismic monitoring and geohazard management.
It called for expansion of the national seismic monitoring network, improved funding and logistics, as well as deployment of appropriate monitoring equipment at major mining and quarrying sites.
The NGSA also recommended that geological and seismic data be incorporated into the planning and construction of major infrastructure such as dams, bridges, railways, airports, mines and quarries.
It further called for strict compliance with structural and safety standards, continuous public education on tremor and earthquake safety protocols, and regular training of its personnel in modern seismic monitoring and data analysis.
Ige assured residents that the agency would continue monitoring seismic activity in Abuja and other parts of the country and provide timely updates whenever necessary.
“We will continue to monitor and analyse. If there is any development that requires public attention or government intervention, we will communicate it promptly and responsibly. For now, residents of Abuja should remain calm and go about their normal activities,” he said.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development urged members of the public to rely on verified information from the NGSA and other competent authorities regarding seismic and other geological hazards.
Residents who observe unusual ground vibrations or have concerns about seismic activity were advised to contact the NGSA emergency line on 09139442811.
