Lagos Vows Tough Action As Access Bank Staff Attack Enforcement Officers
The Lagos State Government has vowed to take decisive action against officials of Access Bank Plc following an alleged attack on environmental enforcement officers during an inspection of the bank’s facility in Oniru, Victoria Island.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that the incident occurred after a whistleblower report prompted the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) to inspect the bank’s premises.
According to him, the enforcement team discovered that the wastewater treatment plant at the facility was non-functional, leading to the discharge of untreated faecal matter into public drainage channels, thereby posing serious environmental and public health risks.
Wahab said the situation was compounded when officials of the LSWMO were denied access to seal off the facility, with security personnel and management representatives allegedly resisting and attacking the enforcement team in the process.
Despite the resistance, the team successfully collected samples of the effluent being discharged from the premises. Laboratory analysis later confirmed that the discharge was hazardous and in violation of environmental standards.
The commissioner stated that the state government would initiate legal proceedings to obtain court orders for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on government officials performing their lawful duties.
He added that enforcement officers would be reinforced to return to the premises and seal the facility in line with Lagos State environmental laws.
Wahab stressed that the government would not tolerate any breach of environmental regulations, declaring that there would be “no sacred cows” in the enforcement process.
He warned that any individual or organisation found violating environmental laws, regardless of status, would be held accountable.
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