In a bold enforcement action, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, personally led a surprise inspection in Ogijo, Ogun State, resulting in the immediate sealing of three factories operating in hazardous conditions.
The closed facilities are:
African Refractory and Allied Products Company (ARAP)
African Non-Ferrous Industries Limited
Metalworld Recycling Limited
Inspectors discovered workers exposed to toxic fumes, lead processing without proper protection, inadequate ventilation, and no meaningful safety measures conditions capable of causing permanent lung damage and other life-threatening illnesses.
One company, Vedanta Metal Industries Limited, was praised and permitted to remain open after showing full compliance with occupational safety standards.
Onyejeocha was unequivocal during the operation:
“We are not here to play games. We are here to ensure that workers are protected and their rights are respected.”
She revealed that the ministry had previously issued warnings and a 90-day compliance notice in December, which the offending companies ignored.
“We have given notice, we have warned them, but they failed to comply,” she said. “We will not hesitate to take drastic action to protect workers.”
The minister expressed alarm at the rising but often unreported workplace deaths and injuries across Nigeria.
She announced plans to advocate for a national state of emergency on occupational safety and health, vowing to work with state governments, strengthen penalties (including possible imprisonment for violators), and place worker protection above all other considerations.
“We will not be swayed by economic considerations. We will prioritise workers’ safety and health above all else,” Onyejeocha declared.
The closures are expected to trigger urgent safety audits in industrial zones nationwide, even as the affected companies face major financial losses.
This high-profile intervention reflects the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s renewed determination to end worker exploitation, enforce decent working conditions, and hold reckless employers accountable.
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