The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has ordered the immediate closure of Dai Jin Jia Quarry in ACO Village along Airport Road, Abuja, following the death of a 10-year-old boy during a blasting operation.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 27, 2026, prompting swift intervention by the environmental regulator after reports of the fatality were received.
Speaking to journalists, the Director of Environmental Quality Control, Mr. Elijah Udofia, who represented the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described the development as alarming and unacceptable.
Udofia disclosed that the quarry had previously been sealed by the agency over regulatory violations but allegedly resumed operations despite enforcement measures.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by NESREA’s spokesperson, Nwamaka Ejiofor, preliminary findings from a joint inspection conducted by agency officials and officers of the ACO Division of the Nigeria Police indicated significant breaches of environmental regulations.
According to Udofia, the company failed to produce a documented Blasting Operation Plan and could not provide records of the Charge Load Density (CLD), which specifies the quantity of explosives used during blasting.
He said the omissions contravene Regulation 23 of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations, 2013.
Further inspection revealed that the quarry’s warning alarm system, designed to alert nearby residents before blasting activities, was reportedly defective. Udofia noted that the absence of a functional siren posed serious safety risks to host communities located near the site.
He assured that investigations are ongoing and warned that any party found culpable would face appropriate sanctions under the law.
“Compliance with environmental standards is mandatory,” Udofia stressed, urging operators in the quarrying sector to strictly adhere to safety and regulatory requirements.
NESREA reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, safeguarding environmental integrity and ensuring that industrial activities do not endanger surrounding communities.
Residents of ACO Village have expressed grief over the incident and called for stricter monitoring of quarry operations near residential areas.
The agency said enforcement actions would continue nationwide to prevent similar occurrences and uphold environmental safety standards.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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