Ogun govt seals two factories after fatal workplace accidents 

Chairman of the State Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, announced the closures in a statement on Thursday in Abeokuta, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Quantum Steel, located in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, was shut down after an industrial explosion that resulted in fatalities, with some victims still receiving medical treatment. Xinfeng Plastics, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was also sealed after a machine operator was electrocuted while on duty.

“Ogun Government says it has sealed two firms over industrial accidents that resulted in fatalities. 

“Chairman of the State Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abeokuta. 

Akintunde names the firms as: Quantum Steel Industry in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area and Xinfeng Plastics Limited on the Lagos -Ibadan expressway. 

He said that Quantum Steels was shut down over an industrial explosion which resulted in fatalities, with some victims still hospitalised while Xinfeng Plastics was equally sealed after a machine operator lost his life due to electrocution,” the NAN report read in part.

Akintunde stated that the state government took the decision to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incidents and introduce measures to prevent future occurrences.

“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,” he said.

He further expressed concern that despite regular safety awareness campaigns by the state government, such fatal incidents still occurred within the production lines of these companies.

The chairman affirmed that the companies would remain closed until investigations are completed and new safety protocols are put in place. He also warned other firms in the state to prioritize the safety of their workers, particularly those in production units.

The Ogun State Government has sealed multiple establishments for various reasons, including workplace safety violations and environmental infractions.

Similarly, in March 2024, the government closed Food Agro and Allied Industries Limited, a malted sorghum producer in Ijako, Sango-Ota, over major environmental violations and regulatory non-compliance.