By Abbas Nazil
The Lagos State Government has sealed several residential apartments and public facilities in Lekki and other areas of the state for discharging untreated sewage into public drains, a violation of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
The enforcement exercise, conducted by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office on Friday, targeted buildings and facilities found culpable of polluting the environment and endangering public health.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the action in a statement released on Saturday.
He revealed that six public toilet facilities in Idi-Araba were closed after investigations showed that the operators routinely channelled raw sewage directly into drainage systems instead of engaging accredited sewage desludgers for proper evacuation of their septic tanks.
Wahab also disclosed that Patience Diekola Court on Olugborogo Street, Lekki, Eti-Osa, and Brickle Apartment 4 on Fatai Arobieke Street, Lekki, were sealed by the state.
According to him, the affected properties deliberately discharged untreated wastewater into public drains, thereby contravening environmental laws designed to protect public health.
The commissioner further explained that Brickle Apartment 4 compounded its offence by obstructing government officials and denying them access during routine inspections, an act he said was also a violation of the law.
He emphasised that both illegal sewage discharge and obstruction of enforcement officials were clear contraventions of state environmental regulations.
Wahab stressed that pollution in any form poses serious risks to public health and warned that the state government would not tolerate such practices.
He added that offenders would face strict sanctions in line with the provisions of the law, noting that environmental sustainability requires collective responsibility.
“Every form of environmental pollution endangers public health, and perpetrators will be appropriately sanctioned,” he said.
He urged Lagos residents to adopt proper wastewater management practices and desist from actions that compromise hygiene and public safety.
The commissioner appealed to members of the public to engage only accredited sewage desludgers for septic tank evacuation.
He explained that these measures were essential in safeguarding public health and ensuring sustainable management of the environment.
Wahab concluded by stressing that Lagosians must embrace proper wastewater management and hygiene practices to promote environmental sustainability.
He noted that the government remains committed to protecting the environment but requires cooperation from residents to achieve its objectives.
The enforcement action highlights the state’s renewed commitment to strengthening environmental laws and addressing illegal practices that compromise public safety.
By shutting down facilities in Lekki and Idi-Araba, the government has sent a clear message that violations will be met with firm action to safeguard both public health and the environment.
