By BONIFACE AKARAH

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential frontrunner, Peter Obi, has described the death of workers in a pit collapse at a brick-making site in Ridawa village, Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State as heartbreaking.

In a statement on Wednesday, Obi expressed condolences to the families of the victims, the Ghari community, and the Kano State Government, while also commiserating with former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident in Ridawa village, Ghari LGA, where several hardworking Nigerians lost their lives following a pit collapse at a brick-making site,” Obi said.

He added, “The news of this tragedy is heartbreaking. While we speak of moving Nigeria from consumption to production, we must never forget that the ‘producers’—the labourers, brick-makers, and miners—are our greatest national asset.”

Obi described the deaths as a major loss to the country, stating, “Losing these young men to a preventable industrial accident is a collective loss to the nation. These were citizens in the prime of their lives, engaged in the noble and demanding work of nation-building through manual labour.”

He further called for improved safety standards, saying: “Their deaths are a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritise workplace safety, especially in our informal and artisanal sectors.”

“My heart goes out to the families of the victims, the Ghari community in particular, and the Government of Kano State,” he added. “My prayers are with the bereaved families during this incredibly difficult time.”

The incident has drawn attention to safety concerns in Nigeria’s informal sector, particularly in small-scale mining and brick-making operations.

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