Abuja quarry now tourism hub

An abandoned quarry popularly called Crush Rock in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja under Bwari Area Council, has turned into a tourist site. Recently people in their hundreds were seen around Crush Rock with mats and snacks resting and catching fun in groups, with only a few observing COVID-19 protocols. One of the tourists, Jennifer […]

An abandoned quarry popularly called Crush Rock in Mpape, a suburb of Abuja under Bwari Area Council, has turned into a tourist site.

Recently people in their hundreds were seen around Crush Rock with mats and snacks resting and catching fun in groups, with only a few observing COVID-19 protocols.

One of the tourists, Jennifer Buba, said she enjoyed her first visit to Crush Rock and that, “It makes me feel on top of the world. It has gorgeous scenery. From different angles, you can see an amazing range of landscapes. The rock is a major attraction for me because the ambience makes me feel at ease. I am a nature lover.”

Miss Aisha Salisu, an undergraduate, said she saw the picture of the area when a reporter from Daily Trust posted on Facebook.

Miss Salisu said, “The quarry site is amazing, sensational, I wanted to go and see for myself,” and added that, “If blasting is stopped by construction companies around the area, it would be a good source of generating revenue.”

Another tourist, a photographer, Philip Mutyep, who was overwhelmed by pictures of the site on twitter, said he used pictures of the site to promote his business.

Mutyep explained that, “I saw the pictures on a twitter handle on Sallah day, I called my friend and told him to assist me with the address of the place so that I could use it to promote my profession.”

The locals around Crush Rock said tourist activities had become a source of generating money.

Daily Trust on Sunday observed that the locals have mounted a checkpoint where commuters drop stipends for them.

One of the boys at the checkpoint told this reporter that, “We are watching over your cars, anything you give us, we will be grateful.”

The name Crush Rock, derived from the Crush Rock Construction Company (CRCC), and the area – dotted by a grey rock and grasses and a derelict lake – has overwhelmed residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with its looks and ambience.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that Crush Rock is one of the nine quarries in Mpape; others being Arab Contractors, Hongyum, Exsamine 1, Exsamine 2, Perfect Stone, and Leenford; two of which are abandoned: Julius Berger and Dantata & Sawoe.

Daily Trust on Sunday also gathered that experts recommended the planting of trees and the conversion of ponds left behind due to the activities of the crushing companies in the area for socio-economic purposes to make up for environmental degradation.

One Mr. Musa Abdullahi who said he worked with CRCC since 1981, explained that, “I can remember when I came to Abuja, Mpape, in August, 1981, we offloaded our bags at the entrance of the construction site. There was no road then, it was all bush and the rains used to be heavy. After the white men accepted and trusted us, in September, after the rains stopped we started paving the way to gain access to the rock. We started blasting and clearing falling and flying stones till October.”

Mr. Abdullahi added that, “The owner of the company then, we called him Papa Germany, I can’t remember his full name now.”

He further said the company had stopped operations at the site in the last 29 years, and that, “Had Crush rock continued operations  the water in the lake wouldn’t have been there.”

He said with the fast encroaching settlements around the site, “The issue of crushing rock in that site has been stopped. The lands are sold to people because all the working equipment has been evacuated a long time ago.”

Effort to reach CRCC proved abortive.

The Hakimin Mpape, Abubakar Ibrahim Gimba, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the information gathered about Crush Rock was right.

Gimba who said he had lived for over 50 years in the community, explained that Crush Rock had a lot of history attached to it.

He said, “Our ancestors used the rock for traditional rites and practices before CRCC came in the early 80s. The company came to us with the aim of investing in the area. They told us that the rock could be used for so many socio-economic purposes.”

He further explained that, “Government gave them approval to commence blasting and rock crushing. We didn’t know all these things. Our people had a business to engage themselves in; selling smaller particles of rocks and so on.

“We had known Julius Berger as a company engaged in houses, roads and a number of other constructions. Most of the bridges in Abuja were done by Berger.”

“Then, those companies that came into Mpape for investment, the government thought if they should renew their licences, the blasting of rocks would cause more harm. That was the end of the contract of CRCC in Mpape. What the investors did was that they sold their equipment to some directors in Nigeria who worked with them. The benefactors then moved them to their own construction sites.

“Subsequently, as you have seen the place, buildings have overwhelmed it, including construction sites. Initially, the agreement was that when they finished their work the indigenes would occupy the place. Now, our people are settled in those places with their families.

“That water you see there, anytime they blast a rock, water comes out from the ground. Since when they stopped blasting at the site, nobody has entered the water and that’s how water accumulated. The water is very deep; beyond your imagination.

“At a point; you know how children behave, anything you ask them to avoid, that would be their area of interest. Our children started swimming in the water until reports came to us that the water had claimed many lives. We had to deploy security officers to chase away people from accessing that area. The quantity of the water kept on increasing, because of the nature of the place and without those crushing machines the place became a tourism site.

“Now, people come here to appreciate its beauty. A lot of celebrities from Nollywood and the music industry have come here to shoot their films and so on. Even though they have not come to my palace to announce their arrival, requesting for approval to carry out their tasks; you know our people are very tolerant. If the place could be converted into a national tourist site, the people of Mpape would benefit from; it’s a welcome idea.”

Gimba who warned that, “Because those people coming there now come on their own without informing us, we are not praying for any accident, but if anything happens, nobody should ask us,” however, he said preparations were on to write an official letter to government.

He further revealed to Daily Trust that the now popular Crush Rock was called Yalakpe in Gbagyi and that “we all know it with that name. Our parents back then, used to forbid us from going there.”

A staff of Arab Contractors who pleaded anonymity told Daily Trust that they had construction sites located at Mpape but that, “That particular site doesn’t belong to us; we have our sign written boldly in all our sites.”

He explained that, “A site where crushing and blasting of rocks take place is not safe for people to reside. We won’t advise for such, but if you need any assistance, we are willing to help.”