Chinese Steel company in Lagos shut down

Lagos State Government has shut down Hongxing Steel Company Limited, a Chinese firm 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 who sustained severe burns after liquefied iron spilled on him on September 23, 2015.

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, stating that the working conditions of the company was deplorable.

 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, reacted to the closure  by saying that  it would serve as a notice to the management to improve on its work-place safety measures, stating, “when it is improved, it will help to avoid future hazards.’’

Mr Umoh was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, after the accident but he later died.