Residents of Magashanu village in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have decried constant blasting of rocks in their area by a construction company carrying out quarry activities.
They complained that frequent blasting of rocks by the construction company very close to their houses, had created heath problems such as hearing impairment and asthma.
They have now called on the State and Federal government to come to their aid.
For residents of Magashanu, an agrarian community tucked away in the slopes of Kujama town in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, stones flying towards the village in droves from a nearby quarry site owned by Datum Construction Limited, at different times of the day, has become one sad phenomenon they have grown to know.
They say since the arrival of the quarry in the area about ten years ago, life has suddenly taken a different turn for many households and individuals within the community.
Constant blasting of heavy stones from the mining facility and the vibration that comes along with it, now contribute in making the people’s lives hellish. Cracked walls, shattered roofs, bad roads, and frustrated faces are huge testimony to the threat the people now face.
The massive deposit of rock-stones which is nature’s gift to the community, is now their biggest nightmare.
The villagers lament that all those who should come to their rescue have continued to look the other way.
There is no hospital, clean drinking water, electricity, good roads or any other basic necessity to make life worthwhile for the people.
Despite housing huge deposits of rock-stones and contributing significantly to the national economy, much of Magashanu lay prostrate, without any form of development.
At the only primary school in the village, the pupils sit on bare floor as there are no desks, tattered roofs and cracked walls were all that was seen.
The Headmaster Magashanu Primary School, Shehu Toro, said they need help from both the construction company and state government.
In reaction, spokesman for Datum Construction Company, Baba-Saleh Haruna, said the company has carried its operations in line with best global practice. He also stressed on the company’s corporate assistance to the villagers.
Even with these tremendous attributes and natural endowments in Magashanu community, what is lacking now is presence of basic amenities that can make life meaningful for the people, and most importantly, for the company to live up to its responsibilities by making sure that its operations do not cause any health problem to the people.
