How We Did It: Investigating Hazardous Rock Blasting in Nigeria

In 2021, Nigerian journalist Samad Uthman investigated how unhealthy practices by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) and the Nigerian government’s sheer regulatory failure endangered the lives of people living in a border community in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria.

The project revealed that whenever RCC blasted rock, the heavy vibration from the site resulted in structural cracks on buildings. Explosions also dislodged rocks that flew through the air and crashed into buildings. Noise and dust pollution took a toll on the health of the elderly and people with disabilities. 

Inspired by the 2021 investigation, we decided to focus more on rock blasting in northern Nigeria and produce a multimedia collaborative investigation. Our investigation exposed more underreported cases of hazardous rock blasting in Nigeria.

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We first visited local communities in Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, and Benue states, where we confirmed that rock blasting negatively affects the health of adjacent communities. As a result of insecurity in some parts of north-central Nigeria, we were unable to conduct our investigation in Niger and Benue states. Hence, we decided to focus on the states of Abuja and Nasarawa.  

We had a difficult experience in Bmuko, a community in the Bwari area council of Abuja. We saw how two quarries were actively blasting rocks while thousands of local residents in this community experienced adverse effects. We approached the head of the community, Chief Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya Dangana, who asked us to write a letter to officially seek permission to interview residents vulnerable to air pollution and widespread public health issues associated with quarrying.

We did as the chief requested, and we were surprised when he denied us access to the community. He stopped answering our calls or replying to text messages. We noticed that whenever we visited the chief’s palace, he was always involved in settling disputes between artisanal miners and truck drivers. 

Through our engagement with others in the community, we were later told the chief was working hand in hand with the quarry companies to prioritize profit over the people’s health and well-being. 

Our reporting further revealed that the Istanbul and Chinese quarry companies were at times violating permitting laws by blasting rocks without sending prior notice to residents living near the quarry sites. This violates two national policies: the National Environmental Regulations policy (2013) and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (2007).

In the field

We also found that major construction companies in Nigeria, such as Zeberced, Precious Stone Quarry Limited, Kaidi Investment Limited, and others, carry out blasting within three kilometers (1.86 miles) of people's residences, which violates the law. 

Using technology, we were able to prove that the blasting adversely affects people’s  health and homes.  In partnership with Sensor Africa, a pollution-monitoring organization, we deployed devices to collect air quality data from three areas in the federal capital and Nasarawa, including Kubwa, Durumi, and Karishi, in January, February, and March 2024. 

The instruments collected records of gases, including unhealthy levels of particulate matter, and weather data that included temperature and relative humidity. Data was analyzed based on hourly, daily, and overall averages. 

Local residents and workers around quarry sites are exposed to airborne diseases that trigger inflammatory respiratory problems, chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath.