Worker gets N25m after losing arm in Lagos factory accident
May 12, 2026 12:29 am
File photo: Lagos State map
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A worker, Joshua Shapara, who lost his arm in an industrial accident at Anjia Prefabrication Limited in Lagos, has received N25m compensation from the company.
PUNCH Metro gathered from a statement issued by the Lagos State Safety Commission on Sunday that the incident occurred in 2024 while Shapara was working in the moulding section of the factory.
He reportedly sustained severe injuries during the accident and was rushed to a hospital, where his right arm was amputated.
The matter was later reported to the Ministry of Justice, which referred the case to the Lagos State Safety Commission for investigation and regulatory action.
Providing an update on the case, the commission disclosed that its Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs Department immediately carried out an assessment of the facility and reviewed the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of the commission, Lanre Mojola, through the Head of Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs, Adekunbi Obamonire, said that although the compensation paid to the victim was commendable, the accident could have been prevented through strict adherence to workplace safety measures.
He stressed the need for employers to prioritise proper machine guarding, routine safety audits, and compliance with operational procedures to prevent avoidable industrial accidents.
Mojola noted that the incident exposed critical gaps in workplace safety practices and underscored the need for organisations to proactively identify and address hazards before they lead to life-altering injuries.
He reiterated the commission’s commitment to enforcing occupational safety standards across workplaces in Lagos State, adding that corrective measures introduced at the facility would continue to be monitored to prevent a recurrence.
The commission also urged employers across industries to strengthen workplace safety culture and ensure workers operate in environments that comply with established health and safety regulations.
PUNCH Metro reports that industrial accidents resulting in deaths and severe injuries have continued to occur in Lagos State.
In 2025, the Lagos State Safety Commission sealed a construction site operated by Monterosa Construction Company in the Lekki area after a worker, Rotimi Adesina, was killed in a crane accident.
Adesina, believed to be the crane operator, reportedly sustained fatal injuries while working at the site and was confirmed dead at Evercare Hospital, Lekki Phase One.
The commission subsequently shut down the site pending the conclusion of investigations.
Similarly, in 2024, a 25-year-old construction worker identified simply as Sunday died after falling from a storey building at a construction site in Banana Island, Ikoyi.
The deceased reportedly fell while clearing lintel wood at the site.
Uthman, a Mass Communication graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has over six years experience in journalism. He reports crime to community-related news for Metro, business with a focus on the capital market and the oil and gas.
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