Dele Alake: Earth tremors in Abuja caused by accumulated stress… no need to panic

Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals, says the earth tremors experienced in the federal capital territory (FCT) are caused by “accumulated stress”.

Residents of Mpape and Katampe communities in the FCT recently expressed fears following tremors that began on Saturday.

An earth tremor is a relatively small or short-lived movement of the earth’s surface. It is caused by the same forces that produce earthquakes.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Alake advised residents of the nation’s capital not to panic, adding that the federal government is monitoring the situation.

“This is to reassure everyone about the recent earth tremors in the Federal Capital Territory — there’s no need to panic as we have been closely monitoring the situation,” the statement reads.

“Over the past few days, our Monitoring Station at Katampe has recorded several ground motions, with an increase in intensity and frequency from September 13 to 16.

“The tremors are caused by accumulated stress along identified faults and have multiple epicentres, mainly around Mpape and Katampe. Their intensity ranges from weak to light, posing a very low threat.

“I advise residents not to panic, as these tremors are low in intensity. We are actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as needed.

“Our NGSA Seismic Stations are also being monitored in real-time for prompt alerts on any major events.”