12th March 2024
Reacting to the incident, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, on Monday, in a statement, announced the closure of the iron rod manufacturing industry during an on-the-spot assessment of the explosion area, which affected almost the production line of the company.
Oresanya disclosed that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the explosion to prevent future occurrences.
He explained that the investigation would spell out in clear terms the conditions under which the company should operate, so that its workers, immediate communities, and property could be adequately protected.
Oresanya said, “Under the rule of engagement with all the industries in the state, the state government will after this seal up and do a thorough investigation on the remote and immediate causes of the explosion with a view of knowing how to prevent future occurrence.”
The commissioner added that “In order to forestall further industrial accidents in the state, the government would upscale and establish a Safety Desk, in the form of an agency under the Ministry of Environment, saddled with the responsibilities of health and safety matters.
“This is necessary because the state government believes that the preservation of lives and property starts from prevention and safety matters.
“So, we are going to step up our game when it comes to health and safety matters, especially when it comes to industrial production and activities, even in construction industries, and make sure that people comply with the minimum and basic health and safety standards before they operate in the state.”
He urged industries in the state to conform to the new health and safety standards when fully implemented, as anyone who fails to conform would be sanctioned.
He also called on all Community Development Associations, who he described as first responders to any accident, to monitor all industries in their area for compliance.
The commissioner, however, stated that seven persons were injured in the explosion.
Meanwhile, residents who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Monday said a sizeable number of persons were injured while some were allegedly feared killed in the incident.
The residents said the impact of the blast shook the foundation of their houses while some of their roofs were also destroyed in the process.
A resident, who identified herself simply as Morayo, said most of the casualties were those present inside the factory when the explosion occurred.
She said, “The explosion felt like an earthquake. Most of the houses in the community were affected. Some roofs were destroyed while some window glass was shattered. The workers in the factory were the most affected. We learnt people died, but we could not ascertain the number because it happened at night. We only saw ambulances moving the casualties from the factory through the community.”
Another resident, who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said both indigent staff members and expatriates were part of the casualties.
“Some foreign nationals in the factory were also affected by the explosion and going by what we saw, the casualties were more than that. Even some residents were taken to the hospital having developed high blood pressure because of the shock,” the source added.
SOURCE:PUNCH