Residents of Isara Remo in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused quarry operators of destroying farmlands, damaging roads, and endangering public health, calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently intervene.
The residents, operating under the Isara Socio Economic Vanguard, made the call on Thursday while submitting a petition to the Governor and the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide, at the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Led by the chairman of the group, Taiwo Bakare, the community said the activities of quarry companies operating in and around Isara had continued unchecked, with little or no benefit to the host community.
Bakare said Isara, despite hosting several quarry sites, had suffered years of neglect and intimidation, adding that the operators had failed to meet their obligations under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
“For several years, our community has suffered utter neglect, intimidation, and unfair treatment at the hands of quarry operators and their collaborators,” he said. “Despite being the host community, Isara has not meaningfully benefited from the activities of these companies.”
He added that the quarry firms had refused to execute Community Development Agreements as required by law, a situation he said had worsened the living conditions of residents.
According to him, constant blasting, heavy duty truck movement, and dust from quarry operations had destroyed roads, polluted the air, and exposed residents to serious health risks.
“The community presently suffers from air pollution, environmental degradation, and bad roads caused by heavy duty trucks plying our roads day and night,” Bakare said. “If these activities are not properly regulated, we may begin to record high cases of asthma, lung and skin cancer, as well as massive degradation of our arable land and food insecurity in Remo North.”
The residents urged Abiodun to order an immediate investigation into the compliance of all quarry operators in the Peteku and Odo areas of Isara with the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
They also called for investigations into the alleged illegal printing and issuance of receipts, as well as the collection of unauthorised levies by individuals or groups within the community.
The Chairman of the Isara Development Council, Benson Lawal, also condemned the environmental impact of quarry operations, saying residents were bearing the brunt of activities carried out without regard for the law.
“These quarries are operating without following the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, which clearly mandates them to sign agreements with host communities and support initiatives that will improve the lives of residents,” Lawal said.
He urged the state government to ensure strict enforcement of environmental regulations and compel quarry firms to meet their host community obligations.
The complaints come amid growing concerns nationwide over the environmental cost of mining activities, despite recent gains recorded in the solid minerals sector.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, had recently said the sector contributed 1.8 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, with a 4.61 percent growth recorded in the second quarter of 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Alake attributed the growth to sustained reforms and tighter regulation in the mining industry, noting that mining contributed less than 0.5 percent to GDP a decade ago.
However, residents of host communities such as Isara say the economic gains have not translated into improved living conditions, warning that unchecked quarry activities could leave long term environmental and health consequences similar to those experienced in oil producing communities.
