Shocking story how Oto Obong Uwem, Inner Galaxy Steel Staff Died … FENRAD Petitions Company

Late Uwem Oto Obong, a former Welder at Inner Steel Galaxy, a company in Ukwa West , Abia State.
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Shocking story how Oto Obong Uwem, Inner Galaxy Steel Staff Died … FENRAD Petitions Company

By Charity Uwakwe

Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) a non-profit and Human Rights Organization, has condemned in totality, what it described as the “negligence and lack of safety standards of Inner Galaxy Steel, a company in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, resulting in the tragic death of one Mr. Oto Obong Uwem.

Late Oto Obong, a Welder and an employee of the electrical department of Inner Galaxy Steel.

In a petition jointly signed by Comrd. Nelson Nnanna Nwafor and Barr. Femisi Akande, the Executive Director and Head Litigation & Corporate Accountability of
FENRAD, respectively, the Organisation implored the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the National Occupational Safety and Health Agency (NOSHA) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of
Oto Obong.

Oto Obong was said to have met his untimely death on Thursday, 26 June, 2025 while on duty.

An eyewitness account states that the deceased fell from an elevated section of the building while welding equipment, due to the absence of proper safety gear and non-compliance with standard occupational safety procedures.

The petition reads in detail:

Mr. Lin Shanbiao,

The Managing Director
Inner Galaxy Steel Company

Ukwa West LGA

Abia State

Dear Sir

PETITION OVER THE DEATH OF MR. OTO OBONG UWEM DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF SAFETY STANDARDS

We, the undersigned members of Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) a non-profit and Human Rights Organization write to formally petition the management of Inner Galaxy Steel Company over the tragic and avoidable death of Mr. Oto Obong Uwem, a young welder employed in your company working on the department of casting as an Electrician

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According to eyewitness accounts and information gathered by our organization, the deceased fell from an elevated section of the building while welding equipment, due to the absence of proper safety gear and non-compliance with standard occupational safety procedures. This unfortunate incident, which occurred on Thursday 26th June 2025 within your company premises, amounts to a gross violation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards as well as the fundamental right to life and dignity as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and relevant international labor laws.

This petition seeks to raise the following urgent demands:

A full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Uwem, involving regulatory bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the National Occupational Safety and Health Agency (NOSHA), among others.
Adequate compensation and support to the family of the deceased to mitigate the emotional and financial burden his death has caused. This should include:
A public apology and admission of liability.
Payment of death benefits and entitlements.
Provision of financial compensation as determined through fair arbitration or negotiation.
Immediate review and upgrade of safety measures and protocols within your company to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This should include:
Mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Staff training on safety practices.
Deployment of safety officers at work sites.
As a company operating within the Nigerian jurisdiction and benefiting from its human resources, you owe a duty of care to your employees. The loss of this young worker reflects poorly on corporate accountability and undermines the basic principles of human rights and workplace safety.

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We hope that your management will treat this petition with the urgency, responsibility, and moral obligation it deserves. We also reserve the right to take further legal, civic, and advocacy actions should this matter be neglected or dismissed.

Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.

Yours in the service of humanity,

Signed

Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor

Executive Director Foundation For Environmental Rights,Advocacy & Development (FENRAD

Barr. Femisi Akande

Head Litigation & Corporate Accountability

CC;

· Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja

· Factory Inspectorate Division (FID), Federal Ministry of Labour,Abuja

· National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Abia Stte

· Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSHD) – Nigeria, Abuja

· Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abuja

· The Commissioner of Police,Abia State Police command,Umuahia,Abia State

· National Assembly – Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity

· State Ministry of Labour / Occupational Safety Office …Umuahia, Abia State

· Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Abuja

· The Leader Ukwa West Traditional Rulers Council, Ukwa West LGA Abia State.

Below are copies of the petition:

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