Nigeria not prone to earthquakes, geological agency allays fears

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) has allayed fears among Abuja residents following an earth tremor recorded in parts of the capital on August 4. The agency's Director-General, Prof. Olusegun Ige, assured that the seismic activity has completely subsided and Nigeria is not susceptible to major earthquakes.

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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. Nigeria is not prone to earthquakes.

Ige described the event, which occurred at 11:23:27 am and lasted approximately five seconds, as a "low-energy, transient micro-event." It originated from a shallow depth of less than one kilometer. The NGSA's monitoring station in Utako recorded the tremor, which was characterized by low amplitude and short duration. "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 stated.

Following the incident, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, directed the NGSA to provide hourly updates. The agency conducted continuous monitoring for over five days, observing only baseline seismic noise and no further tremor activity. Physical assessments were also carried out at reported locations, including the Defence Intelligence Agency facility and the NNPC Towers, confirming no structural damage, injuries, or significant discomfort attributable to the tremor.

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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.

Preliminary geological analysis suggests the tremor may have resulted from the release of accumulated stresses within the earth's crust along existing geological structures. Professor Ige explained that while Nigeria is not situated on an active major tectonic plate boundary, geological stresses can occasionally trigger localized seismic events through fault systems. However, he emphasized that the characteristics of the August 4 tremor do not indicate an imminent destructive earthquake, stressing that the nature and energy of the event are key factors.

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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.