Alake urges calm after Abuja tremor, orders hourly updates

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for calm among residents of Abuja following a recorded earth tremor. He instructed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to provide hourly updates on seismic activities in the nation's capital for ongoing assessment and possible engagement with relevant government agencies.

This directive was detailed in a statement released by Alake's media aide, Lara Owoeye-Wise, on Wednesday. The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) had previously confirmed that several structures in Abuja felt vibrations after the tremor on August 4. The agency's Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako recorded the tremor at 11:23:27 a.m., stating it originated from a depth of one kilometre and traveled four kilometres within five seconds.

Despite currently being in Washington, D.C., attending talks with American investors, Alake reassured residents not to panic, stating that preventive measures were in place to protect lives and property. The NGSA categorized the incident as a "light event of I to II magnitude on the Mercalli scale," noting it is typical for surface earth tremors that pose no threat to lives and property, except for discomfort and fear of possible destruction.

The minister emphasized that the agency would continue monitoring the situation while encouraging residents to continue with their regular activities without fear. Earth tremors in Nigeria are rare but have been sporadically recorded in Abuja and neighboring states over the years. The NGSA operates monitoring stations nationwide to track such events and evaluate their impact.

Experts have consistently stated that most tremors in Nigeria have been of low intensity and have not caused significant damage to lives or property.