WFTU statement on the construction site collapse in Lagos, Nigeria

The World Federation of Trade Unions expresses its sympathy and condolences to the families of the people who lost their life and the dozens who are still missing after the building collapse in a market area of Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos, on Monday, November 1st. According to the last updates many people were killed, including students who went to school on the top floor of the building. Time was lost until the rescue team arrived on the spot ; for quite many hours after the collapse, hundreds of people are still looking around the ruins helplessly for their family members and many are digging by their hands.

In Nigeria, according to official sources more than 200 buildings have collapsed from 2016 to 2020, due to poor materials, construction and structural errors, killing young and unskilled workers who work for a living. This accident confirms once again how crucial is the workers’ demand for health and safety in workplaces.

The World Federation of Trade Unions strongly believes that the people and the workers of Africa have the power to change their lives and calls upon the class oriented trade unions of Nigeria and its people to struggle for full and stable work, for labor rights, for free and public healthcare, safe houses and safe workplaces ; the raw materials and the agricultural production to be controlled and used by the people of Africa.

The Secretariat

02 Nov 2021