The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has said the state government will obtain the necessary legal orders to arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the attack on officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
Wahab disclosed this in a statement shared on his X handle on Thursday, and sighted by The Octopus News.
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According to him, LSWMO officials were attacked by security personnel and management representatives at an Access Bank facility while carrying out their lawful duties.
He explained that the enforcement team visited the bank’s Oniru branch in Victoria Island following a whistleblower complaint. During the inspection, the team reportedly discovered that the facility’s wastewater treatment plant was non-functional.
Wahab stated that the situation led to the discharge of untreated wastewater into public drainage channels, in violation of the state’s environmental laws.
“Following a whistleblower complaint, I directed the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office team to visit the Access Bank Plc building at Oniru, Victoria Island, where it was discovered that the wastewater treatment plant at the facility was non-functional, resulting in the discharge of untreated effluent into the public drainage system,” the statement read in part.
He added that the enforcement team collected samples of the discharged effluent for laboratory analysis, with results said to have confirmed the violation.
The commissioner noted that attempts to seal the premises were resisted, leading to the attack on officials.
Reaffirming the state government’s stance, Wahab said there would be no “sacred cows” in enforcing environmental regulations. He assured that any individual or organisation found culpable would be held accountable, regardless of status.
He also disclosed that enforcement officers would be reinforced to return to the facility and carry out necessary actions in line with Lagos State environmental laws.
Meanwhile, sources within the bank have revealed that panic is the order of the day, as those involved in the attack of the enforcement team have been brought to date on the planned prosecution. Although stakeholders within the financial sector have hinted that the misunderstanding would be resolved amicably, there is no denying the fact that the message being sent out by the Lagos State Government is clear regarding its enforcement of its environmental laws.
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