Residents of the Guzape District, in the Federal Capital Territory, have called on the Federal Government to prevail on construction giants, Gilmor Engineering Limited, to discontinue what they called the incessant blasting of rocks in their settlement.
This is as the residents and property owners alleged that the blasting of explosives by the construction company poses a threat to their lives and properties.
Addressing journalists in Abuja at the construction site of the company on Thursday, the residents led by former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuha, said they have no other choice order than to call on the government to come to their aid.
He noted that in the past three months, residents noticed with tremor incessant blasting of rocks “Very close to our residential accommodation contrary to statutory regulations governing blasting of rocks either for construction or mining exercise.”
He said, “We are calling on the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Capital Development Administration to forthwith stop these incessant hazardous blasting which is injurious to our lives and properties.”
According to him, “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.
“We reported to the Police and caution was given to the construction company by the police to observe regulatory guidelines for blasting of such nature, yet Gilmor Construction Company Limited refused, failed and neglected to follow the path of reasoning for human existence.
“Some of our co-residents took a suit to restrain the company from further damage and innocuous blasting; at the verge of the court granting this order, we discovered various extraneous interests building up thereby introducing legal technicalities delaying the course of justice.
“The suit within this period has witnessed three adjournments after days of delay before being assigned to a judge. The case has been adjourned to April 16, 2024.”
Achuba noted that instead of putting work on hold, “Gilmor Construction Ltd, decided to implore serious and devastating explosive mechanisms greater than the earlier ones for further blasting.”
The residents, according to the former Deputy Governor, are aware that the purpose of the blasting is for the construction of roads for the development of the Guzape district, “But this road should have been done over 10 years ago before any development plan for construction of houses is approved by FCDA.
“As of now, the construction that is intended has minimal developmental consequences on the area as other alternative roads have taken over the utility advantage of the road under construction.
“As long as we are praying for development in Guzape district, it should not be at the expense of life that section 17(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for its sanctity,” he added.
He alleged that the construction giant is infringing on the fundamental human right to life under section 33 “As our lives and that of our families are in danger.”
Achuba further alleged that the action of Gilmor Engineering Limited contravenes the provisions of section 20 of National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulation 2013 made pursuant to National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment Act) 2007.”
Efforts to get the construction company to speak were not successful as none of the engineers on site agreed to speak with the media.
