CITIZENS COMPASS —Ogun State Government on Sunday, March 10, 2024, sealed the popular Phoenix Steel Mills in the Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government area of the State, as Nine staff of the Company were seriously injured in a gas explosion. The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, ordered the closure during an on the spot assessment to the scene of the incident promising that the state government will carry out a thorough investigation on the remote and immediate causes of the explosion with a view of preventing future occurrence.
He added that the investigation will spell out in clear terms the condition under which the company can operate so that its workers can be adequately protected as well as property of its immediate communities which were affected by the gas explosion.
It was learnt that the entire line in production of the company was affected by the explosion.
The victims of the incident were reported to have been hospitalized in a nearby hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson, Ogun State Police command, Omolola Odutola, said the incident occurred on Saturday night at about 2138hrs.
She said, “there was a case of an industrial accident that occurred at Phoenix Metal Company in Ogijo on the 9th of March 2024, at about 2138hrs”.
“According to eyewitnesses’ account, the blast explosion was attributed to a cylinder explosion which happened at the melting point area, affecting nine staff members who sustained non life threatening injuries”.
“The injured were taken to Rolayo Private Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The explosion impacted nearby houses causing damage from the blast. Houses, windows frames were reportedly cracked due to the vibrations from the blast” .
“Enraged community youths tried to attack the company, but efforts by policemen and army detachment of 174 battalion in Odogunyan Ikorodu were visibly on guard to intervene”.
“More security reinforcements have been deployed to prevent further uproar or disturbances, from angry mobs who may want to take advantage of the distress” .
“The situation is under control and close monitoring, there is no indication for panic, whereas further updates will be communicated to members of the public”.
