From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has ordered an immediate investigation into the industrial accident that occurred at a steel plant in the Ogijo area of Sagamu Local Government, Ogun State, on Sunday, 2 March 2025.
Prince Audu, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, in Abuja, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which resulted in casualties, and extended condolences to the families of those affected.
‘The Ministry of Steel Development wishes to commiserate with the families of the affected persons who may have either lost loved ones or suffered injuries from this accident, particularly the Sagamu Local Government and the Ogun State Government at this difficult time,’ Audu said.
He assured that the government would take decisive steps to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the accident, emphasising that industrial safety must be prioritised to prevent future occurrences.
‘The Ministry is currently putting in place effective modalities to ensure the sanitisation of the steel industry in Nigeria and shall immediately conduct a thorough investigation. Necessary steps will be taken to ensure that this unfortunate incident does not recur,’ he stated.
The Minister also called on all stakeholders in the steel sector to collaborate in enhancing workplace safety while pledging the government’s continued support for the industry’s growth.
‘We will continue to create an enabling environment for the development of the steel industry in Nigeria to catalyse the industrial development of the nation,’ he added.
The tragic accident has reignited discussions on safety compliance in Nigeria’s steel industry, with experts urging stricter enforcement of regulations to protect workers.