The Federal Government has shut down two factories in Ogun State after uncovering what it described as grave violations of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards. The action followed an inspection tour on Monday led by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The affected facilities — True Metals Nigeria Limited and Phoenix Steel Mills Limited — are both located along the Ikorodu–Sagamu industrial corridor. According to the minister, the Renewed Hope Agenda will not permit employers to endanger the lives of Nigerian workers under the guise of job creation.
Onyejeocha was accompanied on the inspection by the Director of Occupational Safety and Health, Florence Owie, as well as OSH officials from Lagos and Ogun states. She noted that the government would enforce strict compliance with safety regulations to safeguard the dignity and wellbeing of workers nationwide.
True Metals: ‘A Dehumanising Environment’
At True Metals Nigeria Limited, a battery recycling plant, the inspection team encountered alarming conditions. Workers were exposed to unprotected lead emissions, sanitation facilities were severely inadequate, and essential safety automation was entirely absent. The minister disclosed that the company had previously received several verbal warnings without taking corrective action.
“That you are giving our people jobs does not warrant putting their lives at risk,” Onyejeocha said. “We cannot claim to be creating jobs while killing our people. There is no price for life. Every Nigerian deserves a safe and dignified working environment.”
She consequently ordered the immediate sealing of the factory until full compliance with OSH regulations is achieved.
Phoenix Steel Mills: Impassable Roads, Neglected Safety
The inspection of Phoenix Steel Mills Limited was halted at the entrance after the minister found the internal access roads unsafe and impassable. She further observed stagnant water and a lack of proper drainage, which she described as direct breaches of the Factories Act.
“If the internal roads of a factory are not passable for humans, we can only imagine what is inside,” she said. “Such conditions demonstrate a complete disregard for both workers and basic safety standards.”
The facility was also sealed, pending remediation of the identified hazards and a subsequent compliance assessment.
‘That Era Is Over’: Minister Warns Employers
Speaking to journalists after the enforcement drive, Onyejeocha issued a stern warning to employers who exploit Nigerian workers. She condemned situations where workers are paid meagre daily wages of ₦3,000 or ₦4,000 while being subjected to dangerous conditions.
“In many factories, Nigerians are treated as if they are not human beings… That era is over,” she declared.
The minister stressed that enforcement activities will be continuous and uncompromising. “We will continue the inspections, and if we find you wanting, we will seal your factory. If you do the right thing, you attract more investment. If you don’t, you will not operate.”
Onyejeocha reminded employers that OSH regulations are binding legal requirements, not optional guidelines. “You cannot say the economy is bad and then use that excuse to endanger lives,” she said. “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, every worker matters.”
