•The protesters
Residents and property owners in the highbrow Guzape District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern over the indiscriminate blast of rocks in the area by a firm, Gilmor Construction Limited.
The residents and property owners, who suspected that the firm has the backing of the FCT Administration, are appealing to the federal government to urgently intervene to stem what they described as “life-threatening blast of rocks in the area,” reports The Nation.
Expressing the concern of the residents and property owners, former Kogi Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, who claimed that Gilmor failed to observe necessary precautionary measures, urged the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to come to their aid.
Achuba said Nigeria is a member of the International Treaty and Conventions on Explosive and Blast Technique.
He argued that the construction company, alongside its foreign nationals, ought to have been accustomed to the law.
The former deputy governor noted that the construction firm failed to heed caution from the police that it should observe regulatory guidelines for blasting.
“For about three months, we noticed with tremor incessant blasting of rocks very close to our residential accomodations contrary to statutory regulations governing blasting of rocks either for construction or mining exercise.
“At any point the blasting is done, the whole residential houses within the vicinity of the blasting site shakes thereby injuring the integrity of these properties and the life of our wives and children staying within these premises,” he said.
The former deputy governor said though they acknowledged that “the purpose of the blasting is for the construction of roads for the development of Guzape District,” he said: “It is only the living that can enjoy amenities.
“In view of all these infractions and flagrant disrespect to the rule of law and statutory regulations, we are calling on NESREA, Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Federal Ministry of Environment and FCDA to forthwith stop these incessant hazardous blasting which is injurious to our lives and properties.
“It is only the living that can enjoy amenities. Nigeria is a member of International Treaty and Conventions on explosives and blasting technique.
“During the last world conference on explosives and blasting in 2022 in Netherlands, emphasis was laid on international best practice, which Gilmor with her foreign nationals should be accustomed with,” Achuba said.
