The residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Estate, popularly known as ACO Estate, have kicked against the incessant and unregulated blasting operations at a Chinese quarry site.
Penpushing reports that the residents in their hundreds joined by commercial motorcyclists operating in the estate, embarked on a protest on Saturday at the junction leading to the quarry site operated by the Chinese company, Dai Jin Investment Limited.
The protesters led by the Estate Chairman, Sunny Kulutuye, and other executives gathered at about 6.30 a.m., blocked all access routes to the site to express their grievances regarding the blasting operations.
Penpushing further reports that the protesting residents used six vehicles to barricade the routes and stopped the heavy-duty trucks from moving to load granite, lamenting that the blasting activities have affected and damaged some of the houses in the estate.
The protesters pointed out that the recklessness of the truck drivers, who they said have negatively impacted the estate’s road and residents’ lives, added that no fewer than 20 heavy-duty trucks were stopped from moving during the protest.
Penpushing also reports that the residents stated that despite several meetings and assurances, the company has refused to stop its activities or reduce the capacity of the explosive device being used to carry out their blasting; hence, they decided to demonstrate.
The Chairman of the Estate speaking with journalists explained that the blasting operations have lingered for many years, disrupting the residents’ well-being and destroying their properties.
“Over many years now, we have been having issues with the blasting company that is blasting here, and consistently we have been talking to them and they keep telling us they will stop, they will change their methodology and all that. But we have seen that that is not happening, because three days ago the worst happened’, he said.
“We have evidence of our houses collapsing – the roof, the POP. We are even afraid now that if there is going to be an integrity test on buildings around this place, I am very sure none of the buildings can survive the test. It has affected over 1,000 buildings here’, Kulutuye added.
“Because of the patronage of the truck drivers, our roads are being damaged. They hit and damaged our vehicles on the road, and recently, they killed an Okada person (commercial motorcyclist) on the road’, the chairman stated.
“These are the reasons we came out today to demonstrate. As you can see, we didn’t carry stones, placards, or anything; we just came quietly to register our grievances to let them know that our houses are being pulled down’, he said.
Penpushing reports that Kulutuye recalled that last year, following their frustration, the estate residents took the matter to court, but the case lingered and seemed compromised.
“We have submitted reports to the police station and also AMAC. We have also taken this quarry to court, but because they have more money than we do, the case is not going anywhere, and that is why we were moved to employ this reaction’, he said.
The chairman emphasized that because of the recalcitrant behaviour of the company officials, the residents have resolved that it should stop operating, adding that they are also demanding that the quarry be moved from the residential area and that compensation be paid for their damaged houses.
“They need to stop, they should move away from here, they should compensate every house damaged by their blasting. If they don’t stop, this is just the beginning. We are not stopping this movement of blocking the road and demonstrating our pain, and that is why we are here to see the Chinese people, but it is like they don’t want to see us,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Jacob Edi, a resident of the estate, expressed disappointment with the Nigerian Government for allowing the Chinese to engage in activities that jeopardise its citizens’ well-being and properties.
“It is so wrong that Chinese would come to our country and engage in this kind of activities that damage our homes and other properties, when no one would dare to do the same in their country. They cannot do this in their country, but come here to do it’, Edi said.
Penpushing also reports that another resident, Uchenna Okafor, who said he has purchased his house on mortgage, lamented that the proximity of the construction site has caused severe damage to his building and those of others, which he said includes falling windows, roofs, and Plaster of Paris (POP).
“After the house rent in Abuja became unbearable, we had mortgage opportunities, and since we could not afford to pay those rents, we decided to come to this area, but now imagine!” he lamented.
Penpushing reports that Okafor while lamenting explained that during a recent blast, one of his neighbours had to hold onto the building wall while bathing to prevent falling due to the intense vibrations.
“Three days ago, my mother called me to say the house was shaking. I knew the issue was the blasting. I thought it was normal blasting, which would shake the windows and others. But this was different. One of my neighbours held on to the walls while bathing, so he would not fall,” he stated.
Penpushing further reports that the protesters alleged that the soldiers who are meant to safeguard the explosive device have been dissuaded or manipulated by the Chinese company from their primary assignment of guarding the explosives from getting into the wrong hands, and now protect the Chinese at their homes.
The National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations, 2013, in Nigeria, specifically states in Section 22(1) that blasting should not cause discomfort or nuisance to the public or residents within 1,000 meters (1 km) from the epicentre of the site or road users.
Penpushing also reports that the regulations stipulates that all new quarries are required to also conduct and submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before starting operation, undergo environmental audits every three years.
The regulations added that blasting must be at least 3 kilometers away from any residential, commercial or industrial area, control method and monitoring systems, use explosive limit of max 35kg/charge, 3 tons per blast and effective community warning like sirens or 48 hours’ notice before blast.
Penpushing reports that the regulations aim to prevent and minimise air and noise pollution, with specific limits for ground vibration and air blast at sensitive sites, however, the company appears to have violated these regulations and refused to yield to the residents’ request to minimise the impact of the explosion or vibration.
The chairman of the workers on the site, identified as Haruna after about two hours of the protest, approached the protesters, listened to their demands, and promised them feedback, claiming that the Chinese nationals operating the quarry site could not attend to the protesters because of language barrier.
“We have listened to you and we promise to amend. All your demands will be communicated to them, and we assure you won’t have any reason to do this again’, Haruna stated.
Penpushing further reports that chairman of the truck drivers, Ali Adeka promised that the drivers would drive professionally and cease operating after working hours, and also promised that they would start using plate numbers.
“We promise you that all drivers who violate the rules will be dealt with accordingly. Henceforth, you will see that they will drive carefully, and the issue of the plate number, and we will tell them to start using it. We are so sorry’, Adeka said.
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