By Faridat Salifu
Residents of Aco Estate along the Airport Road in Abuja say continuous blasting from a nearby quarry operated by Dai Jin Jia Investment Limited is affecting their health, safety and overall wellbeing, describing the situation as unbearable for families living in the area.
Speaking to journalists during a protest on Saturday, residents said constant dust and stone particles from blasting have created serious health concerns, with many reporting recurring catarrh and other respiratory discomfort after exposure.
They also alleged that children in the community are increasingly developing health complications linked to prolonged exposure to dust and airborne particles from the quarry operations, which they say spread across residential areas during blasting.
Beyond health concerns, residents said their overall wellbeing has been severely affected, as constant explosions have left them living in fear and uncertainty, with many unable to feel safe within their homes.
The residents barricaded the premises of the quarry company to protest continued blasting activities despite an earlier agreement allegedly reached with security authorities to suspend operations pending resolution of disputes.
The community, led by its chairman, Sonny Kulituya, said the quarry is located dangerously close to residential buildings, adding that repeated blasting has also caused structural damage to several homes due to persistent ground vibrations.
He alleged that on February 27, 2026, a blasting incident resulted in the death of a resident, a development that further escalated concerns over both safety and wellbeing in the estate.
According to him, residents had written multiple petitions to relevant authorities, including the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, the FCT Minister, security agencies and local government officials, calling for urgent intervention to halt operations pending safety and environmental assessments.
Kulituya said the community initially suspended protests following a meeting with the FCT Commissioner of Police, where it was reportedly agreed that blasting should stop until disputes were resolved.
However, he alleged that blasting resumed shortly after the meeting, despite the earlier understanding reached with security authorities.
Residents maintained that the quarry operates much closer to homes than legally permitted, warning that the combination of dust pollution, vibration, and repeated explosions poses serious risks to both health and structural safety.
In a major regulatory intervention, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) reportedly visited the site and sealed the quarry after finding that it lacked required approvals for blasting operations and violated environmental regulations.
The enforcement action followed complaints over environmental hazards, structural damage, and alleged non-compliance with mining and blasting standards.
NESREA’s action is also linked to wider concerns over quarry operations in residential areas without adequate environmental safeguards and valid permits.
Despite the sealing of the facility, residents say they remain worried about long-term safety and wellbeing, insisting that continuous exposure to dust and vibrations is affecting quality of life in the community.
Kulituya called for a full environmental and structural assessment of the estate, warning that prolonged exposure to quarry activities could have lasting impacts on residents’ health, safety and wellbeing.
The community is also demanding relocation of quarry operations away from residential areas and a transparent investigation into the alleged fatal incident.
Authorities have yet to issue an updated official statement on the matter at the time of filing this report.