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ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – The Ogun State Government has sealed off African Refractory and Allied Products Limited (ARAP), a ramming production company in Ogijo that crushes quartz stones into fine powder for furnace linings in steel companies, following a viral video by a former employee alleging occupational illness.
In the widely circulated video, Bartholomew Aniemeka claimed he contracted a contagious lung disease identified as silicosis while working at the company before leaving in June 2025.
Acting swiftly on the development, the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ola Oresanya, led officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) on a fact-finding visit to the facility.
Speaking during the inspection, the Commissioner announced that the company would remain shut pending a thorough investigation into the allegations raised in the video.
He reassured members of the public that the state government is fully on top of the situation and committed to ensuring that due process is followed.
Meanwhile, Bartholomew Aniemeka, who is currently in stable condition at TopMed Hospital, was visited by government officials.
He is receiving care alongside his sister, who had earlier expressed deep concern over her brother’s health in the viral video.
The Commissioner disclosed that a series of medical tests would be conducted to properly ascertain the true state of the former employee’s health.
He further assured that the Ogun State Government would provide necessary medical support and pursue the matter to a logical and just conclusion.
The government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health, enforcing environmental compliance, and ensuring that companies operating within the state adhere strictly to safety and occupational health standards.
