The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of two industries—Quantum Steel Industry in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, and Xinfeng Plastics Limited along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway—following industrial accidents that led to fatalities.
Quantum Steel was shut down after an industrial explosion resulted in multiple casualties, with some victims still receiving medical treatment.
Similarly, Xinfeng Plastics was sealed off after a machine operator, Ishaku Monday, lost his life due to electrocution.
Announcing the decision, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Chairman of the State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Alhaji Farook Akintunde, stated that the closures were necessary to allow for thorough investigations.
“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 said.
Expressing concern over the recurring safety lapses, he noted that despite the state government’s regular visits and sensitization efforts, the companies failed to prevent such tragic occurrences.
“What is even 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, resulting in fatalities. Hence, the need to close them down,” he added.
He further emphasized that the affected companies would remain closed until investigations were concluded and improved safety measures were implemented.
