News Investigators/ The Federal Government has sealed an Ibadan-based factory, Expand Global Manufacturing Limited, following the death of 21-year-old Richard Gbadebo in the course of his duty.
The factory located in Oluyole area of the city was sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The Federal Controller of Labour, Oyo State Office of the Ministry, Femi Fatoki, said that the factory was sealed following its findings in a preliminary investigation.
“Immediately we got knowledge of the accident, we came for a report. We came here but we could not do much.
“But despite that, we are able to put up a preliminary investigation and it was based on the preliminary investigation that we ordered the sealing up of the factory.
“This order is in conformity with Section 38 of the Nigerian Factory Act. It has been identified as a dangerous workplace and we should seal it up.”
Mr. Fatoki said that the factory would remain sealed pending the outcome of a more comprehensive investigation report which would determine whether or not the order would be lifted.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gbadebo was, until his death on the 28th of July, a 300-level student of the University of Ibadan.
The deceased, a factory worker with a third party company -Henkel Nigeria Limited-, was reported to have slipped into a soap making machine during production and died.
The Human Resources Manager of the company, Aliyu Jubril had in a statement described the loss as ‘a sad development’.
Mr. Jubril, who sympathised with the family and friends of the deceased, stated that the company was working closely with the police and Ministry of Labour to ascertain the cause of the tragic incident, in spite of the stringent safety protocols in place for all workers.
He stated that the company’s representatives had met with the family, along with representatives from the student council to express their deepest condolences.
Mr. Jubril, in the statement, also gave assurance that the company would continue to engage with the family of the deceased to provide necessary support.
A staff of the ministry, Adaora Onu, said the preliminary investigation was inconclusive, but was optimistic that a statement would be issued upon conclusion of the ongoing full investigation.
She said that some contraventions which were identified had been communicated to the company manager in writing.
“We are still investigating, looking into the autopsy report and all that.
“When we finish with the investigation, I am sure, there will be a statement,” Mrs. Obu said.
