NIGERIA: Chinese Company Shut Down After The Death Of A Worker In Lagos

Lagos State Government has shut Hongxing Steel Company Limited, a Chinese company based in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government for safety violations.

The state government issued the stop-work order following the death of a casual worker, Mr. Emeka Umoh. He sustained severe burns after liquefied iron spilled on him on September 23, 2015.

According to reports by vanguard, he died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, where he was rushed to for treatment by the management.
Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, LSSC, Mr. Fouad Oki, in a statement after visiting the company, said that the company failed to adhere to the state safety standards.

Oki lamented the working condition in the company, saying it was deplorable.

He noted that a safety audit of the company that was earlier conducted by the LSSC team showed that very little safety measure was put in place by the management.
Oki said: “We have no option than to give the closure directive because the working condition in the company is harsh and totally unacceptable. It was unacceptable to Lagos as a work-place.”

Mr. Uche Eke, the Public Relations Manager of the company, while reacting to the closure, said it would serve as a notice to the management to improve on its work-place safety measures, adding, “when it is improved, it will help to avoid future hazards.’’