Information
Landmark: Bwari RockCity: Abuja
Country: Nigeria
Continent: Africa
Bwari Rock, Abuja, Nigeria, Africa
Overview
Let’s take a closer look at Bwari Rock-especially the Ushafa Crushed Rock-and explore why it matters to the wider Bwari Area Council in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, where the sun glints sharply off its jagged surface.Bwari, tucked among rolling hills, is one of the six area councils that make up Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.Northwest of the city center, it borders Niger to one side and Kaduna to the other, with dry scrubland stretching along its edges.Bwari’s landscape rolls over hills, broken by jagged rock outcrops and dotted with a mix of quiet villages and small, bustling towns.In Bwari lies Ushafa, a small community home to one of the area’s most stunning sights-the Ushafa Crushed Rock, its jagged cliffs glowing gold in the late afternoon sun.Locals usually just call it Bwari Rock or, sometimes, the Quarry Lake, where the water glints blue in the afternoon sun.Number two.So, what exactly is Ushafa Crushed Rock-the dusty, jagged stone locals haul from the quarry outside town?The Ushafa Crushed Rock was once a busy quarry, dug deep for granite and other stone used in construction.Over the years, quarrying stopped, rain filled the hollow, and the pit became a deep, man‑made lake framed by sheer walls of stone.This site stands out for its crystal-clear water, tinted a deep blue that feels almost magical, especially in the dry season when the sky turns sharp and bright and sunlight glints across the surface.Nature and time slowly turned the old industrial site into a place worth pausing for, where rusted beams frame wildflowers swaying in the breeze.Three.To get there, visitors drive along the Kubwa–Bwari expressway, where red dust sometimes swirls up behind passing cars.When you reach Ushafa village, head toward Adefemi Street-or just ask someone to point you toward the dusty old quarry.The last stretch usually means a quick 5–10 minute walk-or an easy climb up a dusty trail-before you reach the quarry’s rim.It may look a bit out of the way, but you can reach it easily-just a short drive from the heart of Abuja, where the streets hum with traffic.Number four.Steep granite cliffs rise around a quarry basin, its dark water still and deep like a hidden lake.The water looks strikingly clear, shifting from turquoise to deep blue as the day moves on, like glass catching sunlight.Vegetation thins out near the quarry’s edge, but just beyond it, trees and low bushes cluster along the walking trails, their leaves whispering in the breeze.Depth: Reports vary, but in some spots it drops more than 20 meters-about the height of a six-story building.Aquatic life is sparse here-just a few small fish dart through the water, their silver scales flashing-since the ecosystem grew from artificial beginnings.Five.Though it’s not an official tourist spot, Ushafa Crushed Rock still draws a mix of visitors-picnickers spreading blankets under the sun, photographers and social media influencers chasing the perfect shot, local travelers looking for a quiet escape, and now and then, daring swimmers or cliff‑jumpers despite warnings about the deep, untested water and the absence of lifeguards.On weekends and holidays, a few enterprising young locals set up guided walks or sell cold drinks chilled in buckets of ice.Number six.In Bwari and nearby Ushafa, people still earn their living from rock mining and quarrying, the clang of hammers echoing across the hills.Although formal quarry work has stopped in some areas, people still break rocks by hand-sometimes women and children, their hands dusty and sore from the effort.It’s gruelling work: firewood burns through the night to heat the rocks until they crack, and at dawn workers chip away, breaking them into gravel sold to builders.On a good day, they earn between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000, depending on the size and weight of the stones.Yet the job’s toll is clear-kids skip school to help, and many work barehanded under the sharp dust.Seven.In recent years, small tremors have shaken parts of Bwari, including Mpape, a crowded neighborhood where the air often carries the sharp scent of dust from nearby quarries.In September 2024, residents felt strange vibrations underfoot, heard a deep rumble that rattled windows, and noticed fresh cracks snaking across walls and floors.Authorities suspected the tremors came from heavy quarry blasting or a small quake deep underground.People pushed for geological surveys, especially with so many quarries running without oversight and sitting just a stone’s throw from neighborhood backyards.Eight.In Bwari-home to Ushafa and nearby villages-you’ll find a blend of ethnic groups: mostly Gwari (Gbagyi) and Hausa, with more tribes arriving each year as Abuja’s sprawl pushes outward.Even with the economy struggling, the town’s sense of community stays strong, and every year lanterns still glow over the square during its traditional festivals and events.People are starting to value the landscape more-its rugged beauty at places like Ushafa Rock-seeing it not only as a source of income but as a piece of cultural heritage.Nine.There aren’t any official tourism plans for Ushafa Crushed Rock yet, but the place is popping up on Instagram and in local travel blogs, often with photos of its sharp white cliffs against a deep blue sky.With the right management, it could grow into an eco-tourism destination, a blueprint for transforming old quarries, and a steady source of income from visitors instead of dangerous work.For now, it’s still informal-quiet, strikingly beautiful, but with barely a safety sign in sight.
