By Martha Agas
The Quarry Owners Association of Nigeria has cautioned residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against building houses near their sites due to the dangers associated with their operations.
The President of the association, Alhaji Nasir Ibrahim, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for mining activities in the FCT.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by the Department of Solid Minerals and Allied Matters (DSMAM), FCT Administration (FCTA).
Alhaji Ibrahim said quarry operators usually operate in non-residential areas due to the nature of their activities, but shortly after starting operations, houses were often built close to their sites.
Represented by the association’s Secretary, Mr Lawal Mohammed, he expressed concern that when they cautioned against such actions, residents became adamant and insisted on remaining near the sites despite the dangers.
“When you talk, most of the people say they are the owners of their lives. They have gotten the land from the land owners, so this is the land they have and they have to build their houses there,” he said.
He said regulations guiding their operations had stipulated measurements for how far they were supposed to be from residential areas to avoid risks such as flying rocks during major blasting and vibrations among others.
According to him, even though the FCTA is advocating for safety measures during mining operations, everyone has a role to play in achieving it such as building away from hazardous sites which the government should enforce.
He said that the quarry sector, through its value chain, was creating many job opportunities for the unemployed, particularly youths, which could expand further if the sector was repositioned and not overregulated.
“The quarry operators are overloaded with double taxes. We are paying for annual service fees at the Mining Cadastre Office, we are paying for royalties at the Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
“We are paying VAT at the Federal Inland Revenue Service and we are paying all taxes including Personal Income Tax and we also pay to the Area councils as well as the FCT,” he lamented.
In her remarks, Mrs Chinyelu Obrike, the Director of DSMAM, said that the solid minerals and quarrying industries hold immense potential for driving economic diversification, job creation, and infrastructure development.
She, however, said such benefits could only be realised when operations were conducted safely, lawfully and with respect for the environment alongside host communities.
“When we operate responsibly, we not only safeguard lives and the environment, but we also ensure the long-term profitability and credibility of our industry.
“The FCT Authority remains committed to supporting operators through transparent regulation, capacity building, and the creation of an enabling environment for legitimate business growth.
“Together, we can build a mining and quarrying sector that is safe, productive, and globally competitive”, she said.
She added that the meeting would be held regularly to interface with stakeholders and escalate unresolved issues to higher authorities for appropriate action.
On his part, the FCT Mine Officer, Mr Mohammed Bature, said the government was aware of challenges in the sector, including the environmental impact of mining activities and revenue leakages.
Represented by Mr Adejoh Raphael, the Principal Technical Officer of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, he underscored the importance of the sector being on the exclusive list of the Federal Government, noting its potential to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP.
