By Abigail Asuquo
A sensational news article recently accused Sterling Global Petrochemical and Fertiliser Limited (SPFL) of running a “modern-day slave camp” in Ikot Abasi, claiming workers were forced to weld in standing water without protective gear and linking the death of a young contract worker to live electric cables.
However, a week-long independent investigation, including site visits, interviews with contractors and some staff on site, and a review of company records, paints a sharply different picture—one that strongly supports SPFL’s position and raises serious questions about the motives behind the viral publication.
Investigation by this reporter reveals that Uko Calistus, author of the controversial article, is not an external observer but a former worker at the very project he criticised.
Documents obtained from SPFL and verified by a contracting intermediary show that Uko was engaged through a labour contractor, Mr. Anefiok Obot, for short-term site duties. According to the contractor, Uko was disengaged after repeated disciplinary warnings for drug-related infractions and poor job performance.
“He was given several chances, but persistent substance abuse made it unsafe to keep him on the site,” Mr. Obot confirmed in an interview.
SPFL management emphasised that the decision to disengage Uko followed the contractor’s internal disciplinary process and not any retaliatory action for whistleblowing.
Contrary to claims of workers toiling barefoot in the rain, SPFL presented signed PPE distribution registers showing boots, gloves, helmets, and welding shields issued to every worker and contractor. A careful review of the viral video reveals that the victim, prior to the incident, was fully kitted in personal protective equipment (PPE), including other workers at the location.
An independent electrical audit of the location where the alleged electrocution occurred confirmed no live current leakage and compliance with Nigerian safety codes.
The viral article centred on the tragic death of a young contract worker on September 17, 2025.
Medical documents reviewed by this reporter indicate the deceased suffered a seizure(medical report available on request), not electrocution, at the start of a welding task.
Family records confirm a pre-existing seizure disorder that had not been disclosed during recruitment.
SPFL says the incident was promptly reported to the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) in compliance with the Employees’ Compensation Act, and statutory benefits were offered to the family.
Labour law specialists consulted for this investigation noted that Nigeria’s Factories Act and Labour Act permit daily pay contracts (“no work, no pay”) provided that workplace safety standards and contract terms are observed.
Evidence reviewed—including employment letters and payroll sheets—supports SPFL’s claim that it meets these requirements and maintains insurance coverage for all categories of workers.
Adding to the company’s defence, a long-serving employee, Mr. Emmanuel Okon, who has worked with SPFL for six years, described the safety culture as “second to none.”
“In my six years here, I have always received my PPE as at when due, and safety is treated as a serious matter. Last year, the company even recognised me as the best national staff in my department for 2024 for maintaining a clean injury record,” Mr. Okon told this reporter.
SPFL has built a reputation for operational safety and community engagement.
The firm holds routine toolbox talks, conducts regular HSE drills, and funds scholarships and infrastructure projects across Akwa Ibom.
The evidence gathered shows that the explosive claims of “slavery” at SPFL are unsubstantiated.
PPE records, medical reports, and electrical audits contradict the core allegations, while the author of the viral story—himself a disengaged worker with a documented history of drug abuse—appears to have a personal grievance rather than credible evidence.
Abigail Asuquo is an investigative journalist based in Ikot Abasi LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
Discussion about this post