By Faridat Salifu
The Lagos State Government has sealed a residential building in Okota for discharging untreated sewage directly into the public drainage network, in a renewed crackdown on environmental violations.
The property, located at No. 59 Ajoke Okusanya Street, off Ago Palace Way, was shut on Saturday, June 14, 2025, by officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO), operating under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the enforcement via his official X account, describing the act as a threat to public health and a breach of sanitation regulations.
“This act constitutes environmental pollution and a threat to public health,” Wahab said, adding that the state would continue to sanction property owners who engage in indiscriminate wastewater disposal.
The action followed a viral video posted by a concerned resident, which showed raw sewage being pumped from the building’s septic tank into the gutter using a hose. The video, recently shared on social media platform X and tagged to Wahab’s handle, triggered immediate intervention from the Ministry.
According to officials, the illegal sewage discharge posed a significant risk to water quality and public hygiene, potentially increasing the spread of waterborne diseases.
The Okota incident is the latest in a string of enforcement actions by the Lagos State Government targeting illegal wastewater discharges in residential and commercial areas.
In May 2025, a three-storey building in Ilasan, Lekki Peninsula II, was sealed for discharging faecal waste into public drains at night. Similarly, the state shut down public toilets and bathrooms along Coastal Road in Ikate, Eti-Osa, for violating environmental standards.
Other recent enforcements include the sealing of Block N in Ebute-Ero Market for building a septic tank on a public walkway and Mega Plaza on Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island, for pumping untreated wastewater into storm drains using a machine.
The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office says it is working to ensure full compliance with environmental sanitation laws and improve urban wastewater management to protect public health.
