FCT MINISTER VISITS LARGEST QUARRY IN WEST AFRICA, CALLS FOR REDUCTION IN COST OF CONSTRUCTION 15-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike on Saturday visited a Quarry, the biggest Quarry in West Africa, located in the Kubwa District of Abuja.
The FCT Minister stated that the visit was at the invitation of the Managing director of the Group operating the quarry, Mr. Ayden Adil Kurt to see the activities at the Quarry.
Mr. Wike who was impressed with the scale of industrial activities at the quarry, including the production of gravel, stone dust and asphalt amongst others commended the company for its efforts and commitment to the project.
Mr. Wike who also said he was encouraged by the activities at the quarry wondered why contractors still quoted exorbitant costs for construction projects in the FCT seeing as the essential raw materials were readily available at the quarry.
He said, “The Managing Director has always invited me to come to see what they are doing at the factory which is the biggest quarry in West Africa. I’ve taken the opportunity to look at the environment and see what they are doing.
“That shows that ordinarily, the cost of construction ought not to be very expensive, particularly in the FCT. Apart from the equipment that are being imported that are used for this quarry, the raw material is available here and I wonder why contractors will be talking about cost of aggregate as if these are imported. They are not imported. They are made here.
“So, I really want to encourage this company. It’s really amazing that we have this type of manufacturing going on here and from what the MD said, they have over 800 residents who are working directly here”.
The Minister who also expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the quarry however said he has been reassured by the Managing Director that the environmental impact assessment has shown that the company has adhered to the approved standard.
Mr. Wike further thanked the Group for its decision to expand the access road to the Abuja Industrial Park, which is also being undertaken by the company at the Idu Industrial District and assured of continued support of the government.
He said, “This is the same company that is trying to carry out an Industrial Park at Idu and which we are going to give all the necessary support”
Earlier in his remark, the Managing Director of the Group, Mr. Ayden Adil Kurt, while conducting the Minister round the facility, said the stone quarry has a production capacity of 3000 tons per hour.
The quarry is said to have created hundreds of jobs for the people.