The Ogun State Government has ordered a steel company in Sagamu to suspend operations following the death of one of its workers in an operational accident. The stop-work directive was issued after officials of the state Ministry of Environment conducted an on-site assessment and preliminary investigations into the incident involving…...
The Ogun State Government has ordered a steel company in Sagamu to suspend operations following the death of one of its workers in an operational accident.
The stop-work directive was issued after officials of the state Ministry of Environment conducted an on-site assessment and preliminary investigations into the incident involving the deceased worker, identified as Abdulfatai Nuru.
According to Nigerian Tribune, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Kafayat Lawal, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, saying initial findings pointed to possible lapses in workplace safety at the facility.
“The preliminary findings has indicated potential lapses in workplace safety within the facility. However, a comprehensive investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances that led to the death of the worker,” the statement read.
READ ALSO: German Firms Eye Investment In Nigeria’s Steel, Mineral Processing Sectors
Lawal said the government had directed the company to halt operations immediately while investigations continued.
“As a precautionary measure, the state government through the Ministry of Environment has therefore directed the facility to stop operation with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives,” she added.
The permanent secretary expressed condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased, assuring them that the government would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
She said appropriate regulatory action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
Lawal also reiterated the state government’s commitment to enforcing workplace safety standards, stressing that workers’ lives were non-negotiable.
She urged industries operating in the state to put effective safety measures in place and comply strictly with relevant regulations to prevent avoidable workplace accidents.