Abuja Records Earth Tremor, Dele Alake Urges Calm

The single sharpest fact is this: Abuja recorded an earth tremor on August 4, with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency confirming several buildings in the city experienced vibrations.

Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, recorded an earth tremor on August 4, with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency confirming several buildings in the city experienced vibrations. According to the agency, its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the tremor at exactly 11:23:27 a.m. The tremor, classified as a light event of I to II magnitude on the Mercalli scale, originated from a depth of one kilometre and travelled four kilometres within five seconds.

Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that proactive measures have been put in place to safeguard lives and property. Despite being in Washington, D.C., United States, where he is holding talks with American investors on joint venture opportunities in Nigeria's solid minerals sector, Alake appealed to residents not to panic.

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency operates seismic monitoring stations across the country to track such events and assess their impact. Experts have consistently maintained that most tremors recorded in Nigeria have been of low intensity and have not resulted in significant damage to lives or property.

Although currently in Washington, D.C., United States, Alake appealed to residents not to panic, assuring them that proactive measures had been put in place to safeguard lives and property. The NGSA classified the incident as a characteristic feature of a surface earth tremor that poses no threat to lives and properties except for the discomfort of the shake and fear of possible destruction.

### ## Key Facts

  • Date of tremor: August 4
  • Time of tremor: 11:23:27 a.m.
  • Magnitude: I to II on the Mercalli scale
  • Depth of tremor: One kilometre
  • Distance travelled: Four kilometres within five seconds
  • Location: Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

The minister assured the public that the agency would continue monitoring the situation while urging residents to go about their normal activities without fear.

The agency added that the tremor was a characteristic feature of a surface earth tremor that poses no threat to lives and properties except for the discomfort of the shake and fear of possible destruction. Experts have consistently maintained that most tremors recorded in Nigeria have been of low intensity and have not resulted in significant damage to lives or property.

### Context

Earth tremors are uncommon in Nigeria but have been recorded intermittently in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states over the years.

### Region

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where the tremor occurred, is the administrative centre of Nigeria.

### Image Query

Residential buildings in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, with a blurred image of people in the background.