The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) says the tremor recorded in Abuja on August 4 has completely subsided and poses no threat to lives or property.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Olusegun Ige, NGSA director-general, said more than five days of continuous monitoring after the incident showed no evidence of further seismic activity.
Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, had directed the NGSA to provide hourly updates on seismic developments after the incident occurred.
“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,” Ige said.
“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.”
Ige said the NGSA seismic monitoring station in Utako recorded the tremor at 11:23:27 a.m. on August 4, with the event lasting approximately five seconds and originating from a depth of less than one kilometre.
As part of efforts to improve public understanding of seismic monitoring, NGSA also demonstrated its surveillance operations to journalists, showcasing the equipment used to detect, record and analyse seismic signals.
Ige said the demonstration was intended to show that the agency’s assurances were based on scientific evidence rather than speculation.
The professor called for stronger national capacity to monitor seismic activities and manage geological hazards following the recent tremor.
