Lagos state government shut Chinese firm over worker’s death and poor working condition

Lagos State Government has shut down Hongxing Steel Company Limited, a Chinese company based in Amuwo-Odofin, over the death of one of its workers and general maltreatment of its staff.

The state government shut the steel company following the death of a casual worker, Mr. Emeka Umoh.

Umoh died from the injury he sustained after liquefied iron spilled on him on September 23, 2015.

Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) 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 of the company.

“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 workplace,” he said.