600 Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Workers Protest Salary Cuts, Poor Conditions in Cross River

About 600 workers on Section 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Cross River State have protested alleged salary cuts, poor working conditions, intimidation and the removal of the state liaison officer.

 

The protest, which began on October 26, continued on Wednesday at the Hitech Construction Yard in Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, about 30 kilometres from Calabar, where the highway section begins.

 

The workers, carrying placards, accused project management of unfair treatment. They also alleged that newly arrived Lebanese expatriates had refused to work with the Cross River State Liaison Officer, Asuquo Ukpayang, and instead appointed a Community Liaison Officer they could control.

 

The protesters said their action was intended to secure better working conditions, protect their welfare and ensure fair treatment for Nigerian employees.

 

A large crowd gathered in front of the construction yard as some military personnel observed the protest.

 

Speaking with journalists, a quality control and laboratory worker, Esikere Peter, alleged that the number of working hours recognised for payment had been reduced from eight to two, resulting in significant salary losses.

 

Peter further claimed that night shifts had been excluded from workers’ payment records, despite some employees working until 11 p.m.

 

“We, the workers of this project, are not protesting to destroy property or cause violence. We just want the Nigerian workers to be treated fairly and with dignity,” he said.

 

A trailer driver, Stephen Oke, also accused the expatriates of intimidating Nigerian workers and treating them disrespectfully, urging the company’s management to address their complaints.

 

Oke alleged that Nigerian labourers carried out much of the work under harsh conditions but were cheated, mistreated, short-changed and underpaid.

 

He also accused the project manager, identified as Mr Boutrous, of arbitrary dismissals, intimidation and threats against workers. According to him, some employees were penalised for requesting materials needed to perform their duties.

 

The protesters demanded the removal of Boutrous, the site manager identified as Mr Tony, and the earth-moving supervisor, Mr Shabel, whom they accused of treating workers unfairly.

 

Another protester, Ana Matthew, who works in earth-moving and level checking, alleged that employees worked under harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter.

 

Matthew also accused management of using military personnel to intimidate workers and claimed that their payments had been reduced despite working both day and night shifts.

 

He further alleged that scrap materials previously shared among employees had been sold without their consent.

 

The workers called for the reinstatement of personnel familiar with the project’s foundation, saying they supported the coastal highway because of its potential to improve road connectivity across the Niger Delta.

 

Female workers also alleged that they were being mistreated, citing the absence of a separate restroom for women at the site. They contrasted their situation with what they described as the provision of multiple restrooms for expatriates.

 

Reacting to the protest, Ukpayang expressed solidarity with the workers, saying he had received complaints about salary deductions, unpaid entitlements and their treatment at the construction site.

 

He said the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, had previously raised concerns about workers’ welfare with Hitech management and urged the company to ensure equitable treatment for all employees.

 

Ukpayang promised to engage the company’s senior and local management, the Federal Controller of Works and the Minister of Works to facilitate dialogue and resolve the dispute.

 

He urged the protesters to remain peaceful and nominate representatives for negotiations, assuring them that their grievances would be addressed and legitimate outstanding payments made.

 

The workers, however, said they would continue their protest until their demands were addressed.