ABUJA — The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that the earth tremor recorded in parts of Abuja on August 4 has completely subsided, with more than five days of monitoring showing no continuing seismic activity or structural damage.
The agency said the tremor was a low-energy, isolated seismic event that lasted about five seconds and originated from a depth of less than one kilometre.
Director-General of NGSA, Prof. Olusegun Ige, gave the assurance yesterday at a technical press briefing in Abuja, where he disclosed that the agency’s seismic monitoring station in Utako recorded the event at 11:23:27 a.m. on August 4.
Ige described the incident as a “low-energy, transient micro-event”, characterised by low amplitude and very short duration, stressing that its features did not indicate a destructive earthquake.
“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 NGSA boss said the agency continued monitoring the area for more than five days after the incident, with waveform records showing only baseline seismic noise and no evidence of continuing tremor activity.
The agency also conducted 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, the assessments recorded no structural damage, injury or serious discomfort attributable to the tremor.
“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 development followed a directive by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, for the NGSA to provide hourly updates on seismic developments around Abuja to enable possible escalation to relevant government agencies.
The agency said preliminary geological analysis suggested that the tremor could have resulted from the release of accumulated stresses within the earth’s crust through existing geological structures.
Ige explained that although Nigeria is not situated on an active major tectonic plate boundary, geological stresses could occasionally be released through existing fault systems, resulting in localised seismic events.
He, however, cautioned against linking the occurrence of the tremor with an imminent 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.
As part of the briefing, the NGSA took journalists on a technical tour of its seismic monitoring operations, demonstrating how seismic signals are detected, recorded and analysed in real time.
The journalists were also shown the agency’s latest monitoring technology and interacted with technical experts responsible for interpreting seismic data.
Ige said the demonstration was intended to assure the public that the agency’s assessment was based on scientific evidence.
“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 tremor subsided, the agency called for stronger national capacity for seismic monitoring and geohazard management.
It urged the government to expand the country’s seismic monitoring network, improve logistics and funding, and deploy appropriate monitoring equipment at major mining and quarrying operations.
The NGSA also recommended the integration of geological and seismic data into the planning and construction of major infrastructure, including dams, bridges, railways, airports, mines and quarries.
It further advocated strict compliance with structural and safety standards, sustained public education on tremor and earthquake safety protocols, and continuous 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 promptly communicate any development requiring public attention or government intervention.
“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 agency urged residents to rely on verified information from the NGSA and other competent authorities concerning seismic and other geological hazards.
It also advised members of the public who observe unusual ground vibrations or have concerns about seismic activity to contact the NGSA emergency line on 09139442811.
