The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of Quantum Steel Industry in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area and Xinfeng Plastics Limited along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following industrial accidents that reportedly resulted in fatalities.
In a statement issued by the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, officials confirmed that Quantum Steel Industry was shut down due to an industrial explosion that caused multiple casualties, with some victims still receiving medical treatment.
Similarly, Xinfeng Plastics Limited was sealed off after a machine operator, Ishaku Monday, lost his life due to electrocution.
Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Farook Akintunde, stated that the closures were necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation into the incidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
“As a government, we are determined to conduct credible and diligent investigations, including inviting external safety experts to get to the root cause of these incidents in the overriding public interest and safety,” Akintunde, who doubles as the Chairman of the State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement said.
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“What is even more painful is that despite the 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, so the need to close them down”.
The Special Adviser stated that the two companies will remain closed until investigations are completed and new safety measures are fully implemented.
He emphasised that all companies operating in the state must prioritize worker safety, particularly those in production units.
He further warned that the state government would not only shut down any company found violating safety regulations but also blacklist them if necessary.
Meanwhile, the state government also sealed off two additional companies—Wemco Nigeria Limited in Magboro along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Beautiful Fibre in Ogere, located along the same route.
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Wemco Nigeria Limited was sanctioned for obstructing state officials from carrying out an investigation into an erosion-related dispute between the company and its host community.
On the other hand, Beautiful Fibre was penalized for exposing workers to dangerous chemicals by failing to provide them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), despite repeated warnings from state government officials during inspections.
Both companies will remain shut until they comply with all government-mandated safety regulations.
