The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) assured Abuja residents on Wednesday that there is no need to panic about the recent tremors experienced in Mpape, a suburb in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement signed by the Director-General of the NGSA, Prof. Olusegun Ige, the agency confirmed that it is actively monitoring the tremors and found them to be low in intensity, posing no significant threat to the environment.
The statement detailed that the Monitoring Station (NGSA-5) at Katampe recorded several ground motions with varying magnitudes from September 13, 2024. While there were multiple events, including a peak of over 21 on September 15, these tremors were classified as weak to light on the Modified Mercalli Scale, ranging from III-IV, and are not considered dangerous.
The NGSA team conducted on-the-ground assessments and found that the tremors are linked to accumulated stress along identified faults and released seismic energy traveling through associated fractures. Most epicentres were located northeast of the NGSA-5 Seismic Station around the Mpape area, with a few in the southwest near Katampe.
The agency emphasized that the intensity and frequency of the tremors, while noticeable, are not of concern for major impacts or threats.