Gov. Okpebholo charges Rongtai Company to improve safety, protect workers and strengthen security after five workers died in separate incidents.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has urged Rongtai Building Materials Nigeria Ltd. to improve its safety measures and protect workers’ lives.
The governor made the call during a visit to the company’s facility in Utesi, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo also praised Rongtai Company for investing in Edo State. However, he urged the management to strengthen its relationship with the host community.
The governor’s visit followed a series of fatal workplace incidents at the company. Five workers reportedly died last month in separate incidents involving electrocution and a crane accident.
The deaths sparked anger among workers, relatives and some youths in the community. The unrest later led to an attack on part of the company’s facility.
The attackers reportedly destroyed more than 20 vehicles and motorcycles. The crisis escalated after the death of a forklift operator.
Governor Okpebholo described the incident as tragic and condemned the destruction of company property.
“What happened here came to me as sad news, and the incident is condemnable,” the governor said.
He stressed that companies must make worker safety a priority. He also urged Rongtai Company to provide better emergency and medical services.
“Security and safety measures should be put in place,” Okpebholo said. “If you had a clinic here, what happened would not have happened.”
The governor welcomed the company’s efforts to build a clinic. He noted that Rongtai had also started plans to buy an ambulance and recruit doctors.
These measures, he said, would help the company respond faster when emergencies occur.
Okpebholo also asked Rongtai Company to strengthen its corporate social responsibility programmes.
He urged the company to improve roads within its premises and around key access points.
According to the governor, poor roads can create security risks. Criminals may also exploit bad roads to attack vehicles entering or leaving the company.
“Just fix the bad road to discourage hoodlums from attacking vehicles coming into your company,” he said.
The governor also expressed sympathy over the loss of lives and property during the crisis.
He noted that Rongtai Company employs more than 8,000 workers. He encouraged the company to expand its workforce and create more jobs for residents.
Governor Okpebholo said he had discussed the security situation with Edo State Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor.
He said the government would support efforts to establish a police post near the company.
The governor also proposed accommodation for officers stationed there.
“Let it be like a semi-barracks to protect the area because we have a whole community here,” he said.
Okpebholo believes stronger security will protect workers, residents and business operations.
Speaking for Rongtai Company, Huang Shibin thanked Governor Okpebholo for visiting the facility.
He said the governor’s visit would help the government understand the situation directly.
Huang said the company had continued to support its host community through its corporate social responsibility programmes.
However, he alleged that some community elders had collected large sums of money from the company. He claimed that the benefits did not reach other members of the community.
Huang appealed to the state government to improve security around the facility.
He also asked the government to create a peaceful and business-friendly environment for Rongtai Company to operate.
The governor visited the company alongside several senior government officials.
They included Commissioner for Public Safety and Security Festus Ebea, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity Godwin Eshieshi, Edo State Deputy APC Chairman Sylvester Aigboboh and Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor.
The visit highlights the need for stronger workplace safety, better emergency response and improved community relations.
For Rongtai Company, the governor’s message is clear: worker safety must come first, while stronger security and community engagement remain essential to protecting lives and sustaining business in Edo State.
