NESREA shuts quarry after deadly blast injures students in Abuja

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency shut down the Cornerstone quarry facility, operated by Istanbul Quarry in Dutse, Abuja, after flying rocks from a blasting operation injured staff and students of Graceland High School, and damaged the school properties.

The Assistant Director (Press) at NESREA, Nwamaka Ejiofor, who disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday, noted that the quarry was shut on Wednesday.

Quarry blasting operations, if not properly regulated, pose significant risks to nearby communities, including injuries, property damage, and environmental hazards.

Incidents like this highlight the importance of enforcing safety regulations and monitoring compliance to protect lives and property in urban and peri-urban areas where schools, shops, and residences are often located near quarry sites.

“Investigations by NESREA showed that the students were in their various classes writing exams when they heard a bang at about 12.30 pm, followed by flying rocks which destroyed the school buildings, with 11 students and two staff of the school sustaining various degrees of injury.

“Nearby shops were also affected by the flying rocks,” the statement read in part.

The Deputy Director of Conservation Monitoring, Glory Uboh, said the agency shut down the facility because its operations violated the provisions of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations 2013.

She said, “What happened is life-threatening; that was why we had to move in immediately to seal the facility. Cornerstone, managed by Istanbul Quarry, which carried out the blasting operation, will be sanctioned because our preliminary investigation shows a contradiction to Quarry operating procedure and regulations.

“We will continue with our investigations, and the facility will definitely be sanctioned in line with the National Environmental (Quarry and Blasting Operations) Regulations 2013.”