“We Will Not Tolerate Violations”, NESREA Issues Warning, shuts down quarry.

The serene environment of Dutse, a bustling suburb in Abuja, the seat of the Federal Government, was recently shaken by a huge blast arising from Quarry operations that spiraled into nearby premises, threatening lives and destroying a school where children were writing exams, badly affecting them, and causing significant damage

Story by Lucy Ekulugbo, from Abuja

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has moved swiftly to shut down a quarry company identified as Cornerstone, and managed by Istanbul Quarry in the Dutse area of Abuja,
on Wednesday, after flying rocks from a blasting operation injured staff and students of Graceland High School, and damaged the school properties as well.

According to Mrs. Nwamaka Ejiofor, Assistant Director (Press), the action was necessary to nip the dangerous situation in the bud.

She said the 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 2 staff of the school sustaining various degrees of injury.

Throwing more light on the incident, Mrs. Ejiofor disclosed that nearby shops were also affected by the flying rocks, and panicked residents had nowhere to flee.

But speaking further, the Deputy Director, Conservation Monitoring, Glory Uboh, said the Agency took the step to shut down the facility as their operations were contrary to the provisions of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations 2013.

She said, “What happened was life-threatening, and that was why we had to move in immediately to seal the facility.

Gloria Uboh explained that Cornerstone, managed by Istanbul Quarry, which carried out the blasting operation, will be sanctioned because preliminary investigation showed 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”, she further stated.

Comments

Trouble looms over Court order seeking Exhumation of corpse of prominent Igbo Family

A recent court order widely regarded as an assault on customs and decency, seeking the exhumation of the corpse of a prominent Igbo chief, is largely seen as a misuse of judicial authority, and fear the backlash may lead to disruption of communal peace. By Clement Ebaku and Lucy Okulougbo reporting from Owerri. Tension has escalated surrounding the Amuchienwa family following a contentious order issued on 5 December 2025 by Justice I.O. Agugua, directing the exhumation of the remains of the late Chief Ifeanyichukwu Dona Amuchienwa, who was laid to rest on 17 October 2025. The directive, made nearly two months after the burial, has sparked widespread outrage, with many describing it as a shocking affront to the dignity of the deceased. Imolites are questioning the circumstances under which the ruling emerged, with reactions trailing a media release by Ms. Chinyere Igwegbe (formerly Amuchienwa), the late Chief’s former wife, whose marriage ended more than 32 years ago. Public...

Sahara Reporters, Premium Times, The Cable and Modern Journalism

Journalism has continued to evolve since the days of veterans like Professors Alfred Opubor, Onoura Nwuneli, Ralph Akinfeleye, Adidi Uyo, Idowu Sobowale, and other greats, not to mention the shining lights of flawless prose writing like Dan Agbese, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed, Dele Gowa, and not least, Olatunji Dare. But the entrance of Sahara Reporters appears to deviate from those widely held pragmatic principles of decency. Stories by our reporters In those days, the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos was very hot and remains so to date. Exciting lecturers in the mold of Dr Adidi Uyo, Ralph Akinfeleye, and Idowu Sobowale made teachings very robust and thirsty to listeners. Students learnt the trade and picked up fast. They taught the tenets of practical journalism exhaustively and left no stone unturned. They made journalism so sweet that students were always hungry to learn more; the thrills were such that even the 13 points cut-off mark for entry ...

Lawyers set for showdown with MD, NMDPRA Petrol Import Licenses breach, set for legal action

Arising from the bombshell disclosure by no less a personality than Aliko Dangote on the perceived shortcomings of the embattled managing director of the downstream regulator, leaders of the League of Patriotic Lawyers have taken up the gauntlet to add fire to the disclosure by calling for the release of the names of beneficiaries of the import license. Stories by Clement Ebaku and Lucy Okulougbo in Lagos. A group of lawyers, under the aegis of the League of Patriotic Lawyers, has called on the Federal Government to review certain policies of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in the interest of easing hardship faced by Nigerians. The group, led by its Chairman and former President of the Nigerian Universities Students Union, Barrister Abubakar Yesufu, made the call while addressing journalists at a press conference. Yesufu said the group was concerned about what it described as regulatory practices in the do...

EXPOSING THE NEWS - politics . sports . cartoons

Search This Blog