The Lagos State Safety Commission has sealed off a construction site operated by Monterosa Construction Company in the Lekki area, where a worker, Rotimi Adesina, was killed by a crane.
The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday while Adesina, believed to be the crane operator, was working on-site he was reportedly rushed to the Evercare Hospital in Lekki Phase One but was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.
Confirming the tragedy in a statement exclusively obtained the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, disclosed that the site had been sealed and an abatement notice served to avoid any further fatal incident pending the completion of a full investigation.
The statement, signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Adewunmi Okoh, read in part, “The Lagos State Safety Commission has sealed the Monterosa Construction Company site following a serious crane incident that occurred at the site involving crane operations at 7:30 am.
“Preliminary investigation from officials of the commission who promptly arrived at the site reveals that the crane operator, one Mr. Rotimi Adesina, sustained fatal injuries during the incident and was transported to the Evercare Hospital, Lekki Phase 1, where he later died.”
According to the commission, the company site’s Health, Safety, and Environment Officer was not immediately available for questioning, as he was attending to the injured operator at the time.
“The Project Manager, Hein Coerzer, and the Company Secretary, Ndidi Uchechukwu, were engaged on account of the incident and disclosed that all relevant documents related to the crane were kept at the company’s head office,” the statement added.
The commission that the company had been directed to submit all necessary documentation regarding the crane and the overall site operation for review.
Mojola emphasised that “Safety of lives is key, and on no account should safety precautionary measures be compromised.”
He also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, adding that the commission “remains committed to preventing the recurrence of such tragic incidents through strict enforcement of safety regulations.”
Adesina’s death adds to a growing list of workers in Lagos State who have lost their lives on the job.
In October 2024, another worker, Olalekan Oloruntoba, was also crushed to death while operating a crane at a Julius Berger construction yard in Ijora.
Following the incident, the Lagos State Safety Commission launched an investigation and subsequently sanctioned the construction giant.
The Director General of the Commission revealed that Julius Berger was directed to meet specific regulatory requirements in the aftermath of Oloruntoba’s death.
A similar workplace tragedy occurred on August 8, 2024, when a contract worker died after jumping into an iron melting pot at his company around 3:15 p.m. on August 3.
The safety commission, following an investigation, found that the personal protective equipment provided to factory workers was inadequate.
However, the incident was ultimately ruled a case of suicide.
