Rock Blasting: Government Suspends Dortmund Limited’s Quarry Operations Amidst Community Outcry

Uluyagbo, Ondo State — The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of operations at a quarry site managed by Dortmund and Company Limited in the Uluyagbo community. The move follows a peaceful protest by residents and mounting evidence of widespread property damage caused by rock blasting.

On Tuesday, frustrated residents gathered in large numbers to block the access road leading to the quarry site. The demonstration prevented company workers and senior staff—including the engineer in charge—from entering the premises.

Community members lamented the deteriorating state of their homes, citing the intense vibrations from blasting as the primary cause of structural damage.

Addressing the community residents, Mr. Mayowa Omoseebi, the Federal Mines Officer for Ondo State and representative of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, announced a tentative suspension of all blasting activities.

”We are going to suspend all blasting operations for now. We have different equipment used to measure noise and vibration levels… We will visit the site, take our readings, and assess the situation,” Omoseebi stated.

He emphasized that while the Ministry issued the license to mine, the government remains committed to a “win-win” situation where industrial growth does not come at the expense of citizen safety.

A central point of contention is the number of properties affected. Pastor Joshua Akinfajo, Chairman of Better Days Avenue in the Uluyagbo Community, vehemently denied claims allegedly made by the firm that only two houses were impacted.

Contrary to earlier claims by the company, it was established that hundreds of houses and residents live in the area, and a significant number of houses show signs of damage.

It was made known that formal petitions have been sent to the Federal Ministry of Environment, the State Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

One of the residents, Mr. Femi Odimayo praised the proactive response of the Ondo State Government, specifically noting visits by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Engr. Alabi Johnson, and the State Ministry of Environment. Despite these visits, residents remain on edge, calling for stricter regulations to prevent a total collapse of their community infrastructure.
”We are not seeking confrontation,” Pastor Akinfajo noted, “but a timely intervention to save our souls.”

Efforts to obtain a statement from Dortmund and Company Limited were unsuccessful. Company workers denied newsmen access to the premises on two separate occasions during the heat of the protest.

The suspension remains in place pending the conclusion of a full technical investigation by federal authorities.