By Obiabin Onukwugha
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency to provide him with hourly updates on seismic activities around the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja.
The directive followed a reported earth tremor recorded in parts of Abuja on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, the minister said the regular update is necessary for continuous assessment and where necessary, further engagement with relevant government agencies, while urging residents of the FCT to remain calm.
The NGSA had earlier confirmed that several buildings in Abuja experienced vibrations after an earth tremor on August 4. According to the agency, its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako detected the tremor at exactly 11:23:27 a.m., stating that it originated from a depth of one kilometre and travelled four kilometres within five seconds.
The statement noted that Alake is currently in Washington, D.C., United States, where he is holding talks with American investors on joint venture opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
“Although currently 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, assuring them that proactive measures had been put in place to safeguard lives and property,” the statement read in part.
The NGSA classified the incident as “a light event of I to II magnitude on the Mercalli scale.”
“This is 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,” the NGSA said.
The minister assured the public that the agency would continue monitoring the situation while urging residents to go about their normal activities without fear.
