***Recommends more monitoring stations
***Seeks expansion of monitoring network

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), on Thursday, described the earth tremor recorded in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on August 4, 2026, as a low-magnitude micro-event that posed no threat to lives and property.

The agency said the tremor lasted only five seconds, originated from a depth of less than one kilometre and was characterised by low amplitude and a transient shock period.

The Director-General of the NGSA, Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, disclosed this in Abuja, at a technical press briefing to provide scientific clarification on the tremor and allay concerns arising from reports of an earthquake in the nation’s capital.

Ige said the NGSA received reports of perceptible ground vibrations in parts of the FCT and that the event was recorded by the agency’s seismic monitoring station in the Utako area at 11:23:27 a.m.

According to him, the tremor occurred at a distance of about four kilometres from the epicentre and was felt in parts of the Defence Intelligence Agency’s logistics unit at Mambila Barracks, Asokoro, the NNPC Towers and some buildings within the Central Business District.

He said the agency continued monitoring its seismic instruments for more than five days after the incident, with waveform records showing only baseline noise throughout the observation period, indicating that the tremor had completely subsided.

The NGSA also conducted a follow-up assessment in areas where the tremor was felt, including the Defence Intelligence Agency facility at Mambila Barracks, the NNPC Towers and selected buildings within the CBD.

Ige said the assessment found no evidence of structural damage and no reports of injuries or serious discomfort among occupants of the affected buildings.

He said: “Analysis of the waveform and seismic signals by NGSA described the tremor as a low moment event, having low amplitude and very transient shock period that lasted only five seconds from an originating depth of less than 1km.”

The agency attributed the possible cause of the tremor to an intra-plate response to accumulated stresses originating from deeper sections of the Earth’s crust, aided by the reactivation of northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast conjugate sets of strike-slip faults running through Nigeria.

It explained that movement along the geological fractures could trigger a tremor, which may subsequently dissipate through secondary fractures to points where the vibration is felt at the surface.

Ige stressed that the low magnitude and isolated nature of the event meant that it lacked the energy required to damage building foundations, cause cracks in walls or trigger secondary hazards.

He said the recent occurrence could also be related to previous seismic events recorded in the area in 2016, 2018 and 2024.

The NGSA, however, recommended stronger seismic preparedness in view of the recurrence of tremors in different parts of the country.

It called on the Federal Government to expand seismic monitoring stations and provide adequate logistics funding to enable effective monitoring and accurate computation of seismic data.

The agency also recommended that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development mandate major quarry and mining operators to install seismic monitoring equipment at their sites to complement government monitoring stations.

He said: “Maintain Infrastructure Integrity: government should strengthen enforcement of standard seismic building codes for any heavy infrastructure or industrial projects in Abuja and other cities.

“Construction companies should build homes and offices with strong steel and reinforced concrete, bolt the roofs and frames firmly to the foundation, test the local soil before starting to build and follow strictly all the safety precautions during tremor or quake. Public Education: Run routine public awareness campaigns on standard earthquake safety protocols.

“Capacity building of NGSA staff to raise their knowledge level to new advances and technology for accurate management of data, efficient and competent responses to tremors and related environmental hazards.”

He urged relevant government agencies to require seismic and structural configuration data from the NGSA before major infrastructure such as dams, bridges, railways, airports, mines and quarries are sited.

The agency further called for stricter enforcement of seismic building standards for major infrastructure and industrial projects in Abuja and other cities, as well as public education on earthquake and tremor safety protocols.

Speaking at the briefing, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said the engagement was organised to enable journalists to see firsthand how seismic activities are monitored and assessed.

Owoeye-Wise said the reports describing the incident as an earthquake had generated concern among Nigerians, particularly following the earthquake reported in Colombia.

She said the Minister had directed the ministry’s team to engage immediately with the NGSA’s technical experts and provide the public with credible information based on scientific evidence.

She said: “Our initial press statement said there was nothing to worry about. We also stated that the technical team was on top of the situation and monitoring developments.”

According to her, the purpose of the technical briefing was not merely to provide assurances but to demonstrate the scientific processes behind the government’s conclusion that there was no cause for alarm.

She said journalists were invited to observe the monitoring process and understand how the NGSA collects and analyses seismic data.

Owoeye-Wise added that the engagement was intended to reassure Nigerians that the relevant authorities were actively monitoring the situation and were prepared to respond appropriately to any future seismic activity.