Death jinx trails Gov Abdulrasaq’s controversial N22.8 bn kwara hotel renovation as fence collapse kills 3 workers in one week *** aggrieved workers protest, Lament Horrible Working Conditions 

By Bamidele Aremu

Employees of Craneburg Construction Company, the contractor handling the refurbishment of Kwara Hotel in Ilorin, staged a protest on Friday morning over the death of their colleague, Friday Godwin. The workers demanded justice, proper funeral arrangements, and compensation for the family of the deceased, whose passing represents the third death recorded at the site within a week.

The protest took place at the hotel’s main entrance, located in central Ilorin, as the visibly distraught workers voiced their anger and sorrow over the string of fatalities.

Godwin, originally from Akwa Ibom State, reportedly died after a portion of the hotel’s fence gave way amid renovation activities.

The protesters insisted that his body be returned to his home state for burial, while also urging Craneburg to support the grieving family financially.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, two other workers — Ahmed Taiye Jimoh from the Opomalu area of Ile Ilorin, and Abdulfatai Adebayo of Bare Gambari — lost their lives in a similar incident involving the perimeter fence collapse.

The aggrieved workers accused the construction firm of failing to enforce adequate safety protocols and criticized its response to the earlier tragedies, which they said reflected gross negligence.

“We want the company to take full responsibility,” one of the protesting workers told SaharaReporters. “It’s not just about burying the dead — they must ensure this never happens again.”

The Kwara State Government had contracted Craneburg Construction to handle the massive renovation project of the Kwara Hotel, once a symbol of pride in the state’s hospitality sector.

A representative for the protesting workers revealed that they are calling for the immediate release of Godwin’s remains from the mortuary so that his body can be transported to Akwa Ibom State for a dignified burial.

He stressed that the demonstration was prompted by the delay in returning their late colleague to his hometown, insisting that the company should act swiftly and treat the situation with the respect it deserves.

“We are here because of Friday Godwin. This incident that happened can happen to any of us. We will not resume work until the company takes Friday’s body to Akwa Ibom and gives him a proper burial. That is a matter between the company and his family,” the worker said.

Another protesting worker said, “If you’re asking us to return to work, we have no issues with anyone. The only thing we ask is that the body of Mr. Friday Godwin be taken to Akwa Ibom and given a proper burial.”

He further stated that the workers were unwilling to resume duties until the company fully addressed all compensation and burial matters concerning their late colleague.

Meanwhile, a representative from another unit working under Craneburg urged the firm to implement stronger safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.

He cautioned the management against using the protest as an excuse to dismiss employees who simply stood up for the rights of their fallen co-workers.

Commenting on the current state of the site, he pointed out that several other sections of the perimeter fence appeared unstable and at risk of collapse.

He asked, “What is the safety condition of the workers currently on site? What is the company doing about that? If we are being asked to resume work under the same unsafe conditions that led to the deaths of Mr. Friday Godwin, Ahmed Taiye Jimoh, and Abdulfatai Adebayo, then Craneburg should tell us if they are taking steps to address these safety concerns.

“I personally do not feel safe on that site. You’ve seen our faces out here today protesting. None of us is happy, and this protest should not be used as a reason to sack any of us. The company must not, under any circumstances, threaten to dismiss workers for demanding justice and safer working conditions.”

Some of the protesting workers alleged that Craneburg Construction Company frequently terminates workers’ contracts without just cause.

They claimed that employees who show signs of exhaustion and pause briefly to recover are often fired on the spot, a practice they say goes against the conditions outlined in their appointment letters.

“People who have been working since morning, when they try to rest in the evening, are suddenly informed that they have been fired,” one of the aggrieved workers said.

The workers accused the company of disregarding the terms specified in their employment contracts.

They further alleged that Craneburg neglects to supply essential protective gear, such as gloves, for those on site.

According to them, they are often forced to spend their own money to buy the tools and safety equipment needed to carry out their duties.

“Craneburg is not abiding by the terms stated in the employment letter they gave us. It clearly states that work is to begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., with overtime from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. being optional and compensated,” another worker explained.

They added that without overtime, workers earn around ₦83,000 per month after necessary deductions. With overtime, some employees earn more than ₦90,000 per month.

However, they alleged that if any worker declines to work overtime, they are immediately sacked, even though overtime was supposed to be optional.

One of the aggrieved workers said that when he resumed work, he brought his own safety equipment before the company eventually provided it for them.

“Now they are talking about taking the corpse and settling with the family of the deceased, but they are not talking about preventive measures,” he said.

“They need to put safety measures in place going forward. A person on whom a fence collapsed cannot protest—such a person is already gone.”

The Project Manager of Craneburg Construction Company at Kwara Hotel, Mohamad Yamout, appealed to the workers to end the protest. He promised that Friday Godwin’s body would be transported to Akwa Ibom State.

“Calm down. Let us pray together for Friday and the other two. They have already passed away. We are praying for Friday to rest in peace. His family will be contacted to take his body and travel bag,” he said.,

“After that, you can return to your homes. Once his family reaches out to their representative, they will contact me. We will then go to the security to resolve all issues. After that, we’ll talk about how the workers can return to work.”

Speaking on workers’ safety, he said: “Do you know that we distributed a lot of safety gear to everyone? But a few people took them home and never returned them. I know what that means—they kept it in their houses.

“We are trying to do the best we can, but you have to help us. If you see your colleague who has safety equipment but is not using it, and you’re a supervisor, stop him. Take his bag outside and don’t let him enter the site. You have to help me before I can help you.

“You have your safety gear, but you’re not using it. Yes, we have safety officers, but you know they can be strict. We are doing our best, but you, as a supervisor, must also do your part. If a worker doesn’t come with their safety gear, tell them to leave the site.”