The Lagos State Government has shut down an Access Bank branch in Victoria Island due to claims of environmental infractions and an assault on their enforcement personnel.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the incident followed a whistleblower complaint concerning the bank’s facility in the Oniru area.
This online news outlet gathered that according to the statement, officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) were deployed to inspect the premises, where they discovered that the facility’s wastewater treatment plant was non-functional.
Wahab disclosed that untreated faecal matter was allegedly being discharged into the public drainage system, posing serious environmental hazards.
He further revealed that enforcement officers were denied access to the premises during the operation. The situation reportedly escalated as security personnel and representatives of the bank resisted officials and allegedly attacked members of the inspection team.
“During the enforcement visit, officials of LSWMO were denied access to seal the facility. Security personnel and management representatives of the bank resisted our officers and, in the process, attacked members of the enforcement team,” the statement read.
The Commissioner also stated that samples of the waste that was released were taken for lab testing. The test results confirmed that environmental rules were broken.
Wahab noted that the state government would approach the court to obtain necessary orders for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on government officials.
He also emphasized that enforcement officers would return—backed by security—to seal off the facility in line with Lagos State environmental laws.
“There will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of environmental regulations. Any individual or organisation found violating environmental laws, regardless of status, will be held accountable,” he stated.
