By Gloria Ikibah

Communities in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, are beginning to see visible signs of change as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu recently launched a series of public infrastructure projects.

The initiative, which began on Friday, took Kalu across three key wards Bende, Itumbauzo, and Uzuakoli, where he formally opened a number of completed facilities. These include blocks of classrooms, administrative offices, rehabilitated roads, and new boreholes.

Bende Constituency, one of the largest in the country with 13 wards, has long grappled with infrastructure gaps. The newly delivered projects are seen as part of a broader effort to close those gaps and raise the standard of living in the area.

Residents say the projects are already making a difference in both school attendance and ease of movement between villages. Many hope this momentum continues in the months ahead.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed serious concern over the state of workplace safety in Nigeria, calling for urgent legislative action to prevent further injuries and fatalities. 

Speaker Abbas made the call during the 2025 World Day for Safety Conference, with the theme: “The Legislative Perspective: Safety First – Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians”, organised by the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday. 

The Speaker who was represented by Ondo lawmaker, Rep. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, said that the occasion was a reminder of the need to protect Nigerian workers from occupational hazards.

He said: “Today’s event is very significant, especially in the lives of workers across the globe. It reminds us of the need to guarantee the safety of workers against occupational hazards and fatalities. 

“In societies where life is not given the right premium, workers are exposed to various accidents and dangers. Every worker has a right to be protected.”

Speaker Abbas acknowledged the global importance of the World Day for Safety, which was launched in 2003 by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and shared alarming statistics. “About 2.3 million workers lose their lives every year from workplace injuries and health hazards, with about 160 million non-fatal injuries,” he noted.

Abbas lamented the lack of reliable data In Nigeria, and said the most recent figures—238 deaths and 3,461 injuries in the construction industry—date back to between 2014 and 2016. “Even those reports are incomplete,” he added.

He also cited a study at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, which found that 52.7 percent of health workers surveyed had experienced needle pricks, while 53.3 percent reported incidents of blood splashes, and linked this to greater risks during outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, recalling the sacrifices of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh and Nurse Justina Ejelonu, who died after coming in contact with the index Ebola case in 2014.

The Speaker blamed many of the injuries in construction sites and criticised the neglect of safety in public buildings. 

“Unsafe acts and unsafe working conditions, including lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), hoisting gear, appropriate scaffolds and ladder protection.

“Most public buildings and workplaces in Nigeria are design-built and opened for use without safety checks. Apart from fire extinguishers, you hardly see buildings marked with reflective signs that guide workers in emergencies”, he lamented. 

Abbas promised that the House would review and streamline existing laws to improve enforcement and public health protections. 

“As the law-making body, the House of Representatives is poised to cause the necessary review of existing laws and seek ways to make them more effective in safeguarding public health and safety”, he added.

The Chairman Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Rep. David Idris Zacharias in his welcome address said the event marked a historic moment in our nation’s journey towards building a safer, more resilient society.

He stressed that safety must be prioritized, embedded in every policy, and included in every planning phase of our national projects. Whether it’s construction, road, workplace, environmental, or food safety, these are not peripheral issues—they are central to our well-being.

According to Zacharias, the committee’s mission is not only to pass laws but to ensure they are implemented effectively. 

He acknowledged that enforcement gaps, poor awareness, and weak appreciation of safety still plague the country. However, he added, and that these challenges present us with immense opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and learn from others.

The committee chairman therefore called for partnerships with businesses, labour unions, NGOs, and the public. 

He promised stronger enforcement, increased funding, more monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.

“Safety must be everyone’s concern. From the smallest corner shop to the largest industrial complex, we all have a role to play. We envision a future where safety is embedded in every organisation’s culture, every construction project, and every government policy,” he said.