Residents of Guzape District in Abuja have petitioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over continued rock blasting and alleged plans to fill a drainage channel near their property.
The residents, represented by Adango Jumbo and Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, said the activities had caused extensive damage to their property at Plot 1785, Cadastral Zone A09, while warning that blocking the drainage channel could increase the risk of flooding.
Their complaint comes amid longstanding concerns over rock blasting in parts of Guzape. Residents in the district had also raised similar concerns about blasting activities in 2024.
In the latest petition, the residents alleged that repeated blasting around the property had destroyed a POP ceiling, shattered glass panels and caused cracks to walls, windows and doors.
They also complained of persistent noise and dust, which they said had affected the occupants’ peaceful enjoyment of the property.
According to the residents, their lawyers, Ajunwa & Co., wrote to the Chairman of KYC Estate on August 12, 2026, demanding that the blasting stop within two days.
The letter, they said, cited provisions of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Act, 1997, and included photographic evidence of the alleged damage. It also demanded N100 million in compensation for property damage and the physical and psychological distress allegedly suffered by occupants.
The residents said personnel from KYC Estate subsequently visited the property and carried out repairs, including fixing the damaged ceiling. They described the intervention as an acknowledgment of the damage allegedly caused by the blasting.
However, they said the blasting had continued despite the repairs and the earlier legal notice.
The residents also raised concerns about alleged plans by Deansgate Trio Services Nigeria Limited to fill a drainage channel behind their property. They said the company holds an Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy for Plot 1803, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape, dated October 29, 2024.
They argued that filling the channel could obstruct the natural flow of stormwater and expose nearby properties to flooding.
The residents further appealed to Wike and relevant regulatory authorities to intervene, citing the FCT Administration’s position against encroachment on waterways, drainage channels and designated green areas.
However, the developer at the centre of the allegations, Michael Auta Ayuba, rejected the residents’ claims.
Ayuba said he moved into the area before the complainants and that the blasting began in 2019, several years before Kpokpogri and other residents established their properties there.
He said he had advised the newer residents to suspend construction until the blasting exercise was completed, but they proceeded with their projects.
Ayuba also maintained that his activities were lawful, saying he possessed the necessary approvals and that the blasting was a controlled operation conducted under the supervision of relevant agencies and security personnel.
On the alleged encroachment on a waterway, the developer said he had a valid allocation from the FCT Administration. He maintained that the stream channel had been properly mapped out and disputed the residents’ description of the area as a canal, describing it instead as a large expanse of land separated by a stream.
The residents, meanwhile, said they would pursue all available legal avenues to seek redress and prevent what they described as potentially harmful activities from continuing.
