Two companies – Quantum Steel Industry in Ogijo, Sagamu LGA, and Xinfeng Plastics Limited along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway – have been shut down by the Ogun state government over safety violations.
The action by the state government is a sequel to lack of adherence to safety precautionary measures which led to the death and hospitalisation of employees at the companies.
At Quantum Steels, an industrial explosion which happened at about 7 pm on Sunday led to the death of some other while several others were hospitalised.
The incident affected seven workers including three expatriates.
The victims, all male are Daniel Bala age 28, Mutiu Olajide, 39, Godwin Solomon, 27, Maduabuchi Onwe, 27, Ajun Kumar, 37, Chandan Kumar, 50 years and 30 year old Rakash Kumar.
Also at Xinfeng Plastics, a 19-year-old machine operator, Ishaku Monday, lost his life due to electrocution
Monday was said to have been operating a palletising machine inside the factory around 7:30 pm on Sunday when he suffered the fatal electric shock.
Despite been rushed to the Idera Medical Centre in Sagamu, the young boy was confirmed dead while he was receiving treatment.
This led to the immediate shut down of the firm by the Ogun state government.
Speaking on the state government’s decision to shut down the companies, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) Farook Akintunde said investigations on the remote and immediate causes of both incidents are ongoing.
He also decried he failure of compliance to safety measure by the companies despite regular checks, visits and efforts to enlighten them.
“As a government, we are determined to conduct credible and diligent investigations including inviting external safety experts to get to the root cause of this incidents in the overriding public interest and safety.
“What is even painful is that despite state government’s regular visits to these companies just like others statewide to educate them on the need to adhere strictly to safety procedures,such incidents still occurred within their production lines that resulted in fatalities, hence the need to close them down,” Akintunde said.
He added that the government has also decided that the companies will remain shut pending the conclusion and outcome of the investigation and implementation of safety procedures.
Akintunde warned other companies in the state to take the safety of workers especially those in the production lines paramount as the state government will not only close down any erring company with such occurrence but will also blacklist them.
In addition, the Ogun State government has shut closed down two other companies, Wemco Nigeria Limited at Magboro along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Beautiful Fibre at Ogere also along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Details show that Wemco Nigeria Limited was found guilty of obstructing state officials from performing their official assignment of investigating an erosion dispute between them and their host community.
For Beautiful Fibre, the company allegedly exposed its workers to hazardous chemicals by not providing them with Personal Protective Equipment.
The chairman of the State Taskforce said that despite several warnings by during routine visits to the companies, they failed to comply with government directives.
