Five Workers Die In One Month At Edo Building Materials Firm

(The governor with staff and management of the company. Photo by PM News)

At least five workers have d!ed at a building materials company in Edo State within the past month.

Some were electrocuted, while others fell from cranes.

The deaths triggered an angry protest by workers and community youth after a forklift operator d!ed at the facility.

During the protest, part of the company was set on fire, destroying more than 20 vehicles and motorcycles.

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, visited the company on Wednesday to assess the situation.

He condemned what happened and told the company's management they need to do much better protecting workers' safety.

He acknowledged the company's investment in the state but warned them about their responsibility to the community.

He said culture values life and a workplace shouldn't experience this kind of tragedy.

Safety and security measures must be in place, he stressed.

He noted that if the company had a clinic, the situation might have been different.

The governor expressed satisfaction that the company is already building a clinic, has started buying an ambulance and is hiring doctors.

He urged the company to improve the roads within its premises to discourage criminals and to do more community work.

A bad road makes it easier for hoodlums to cause trouble, he said.

He also discussed with police leadership the need to set up a police station at the company with housing for officers, almost like a small military barracks, since the facility has 8,000 workers.

A company representative thanked the governor for visiting and said they've been doing community work.

However, he claimed some community elders have received money from the company without sharing it with others.

He asked the governor to help improve security and make the area safer for business.