Residents of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, were thrown into panic after a minor earthquake shook parts of the city, prompting the Federal Government to activate a 24-hour seismic monitoring operation.
The brief ground shaking, which occurred on Tuesday, was felt in several areas of the capital, with many residents reporting vibrations in buildings and sharing their experiences on social media.
In response, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to commence round-the-clock monitoring of seismic activities in and around Abuja.
According to the NGSA, the seismic event was recorded at 11:23:27 a.m. by its monitoring station in Utako. Preliminary findings showed the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of about one kilometre and spread approximately four kilometres within five seconds.
Experts classified the incident as a minor earthquake, also known as an earth tremor, with an intensity of I to II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale—a level considered too weak to cause structural damage.
The Federal Government assured residents that there is no immediate threat to lives or property, stressing that the enhanced monitoring is a precautionary measure to detect any unusual seismic activity and provide timely updates.
Although earthquakes are uncommon in Nigeria, experts say low-magnitude seismic events have been recorded in some parts of the country over the years. Authorities have advised residents to remain calm and rely only on verified information while monitoring continues.
