Abuja Tremor: Alake Urges Calm, Orders Hourly Seismic Updates

ByNewsmakers

Aug 6, 2026 #Abuja earth tremor, #Abuja earthquake update, #Abuja seismic activity, #Dele Alake, #FCT earth tremor, #NGSA seismic monitoring, #Nigerian Geological Survey Agency

Malik Yahya/

ABUJA — Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to remain calm and continue their normal daily activities following the earth tremor that shook parts of Abuja earlier this week.

The minister also directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide him with hourly updates on seismic developments in and around the nation’s capital to enable continuous assessment and, where necessary, prompt escalation to relevant government agencies.

Alake, who is currently in Washington, D.C., United States, engaging American investors on joint venture opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, gave the directive after receiving an alert from the NGSA on the seismic activity recorded on Tuesday, August 4.

According to the agency, its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the earth tremor at exactly 11:23:27 a.m., revealing that the seismic event originated from a depth of one kilometre and travelled approximately four kilometres within five seconds.

Despite the noticeable shaking experienced in some buildings, the NGSA classified the incident as a light seismic event, measuring between I and II on the Mercalli Intensity Scale, indicating that it poses no significant danger to lives or property.

The agency explained that the tremor was typical of a surface earth movement, with its primary effects limited to temporary shaking and public anxiety rather than structural destruction.

Reassuring residents, Alake said the Federal Government had activated proactive monitoring measures to ensure public safety, stressing that there was no cause for panic.

“The agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while residents go about their normal activities without fear or anxiety,” the minister said.

The NGSA is expected to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of seismic activities in the FCT and provide regular reports to the minister as part of efforts to ensure swift response should conditions change.