A building operated by Access Bank Plc in the Oniru area of Lagos State has been sealed by officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the facility was cordoned off over the “discharge of untreated faecal matter into the public drainage system.”
Mr Wahab said this causes “severe damage to the environment,” because the financial institution failed to use its wastewater treatment plant to process the faecal waste.
In a post on Thursday, the Commissioner said the state government was tipped off about the improper discharge, and it was discovered that the treatment plant was not working at the time officials of the agency arrived at the building.
He also claimed that while attempting to seal the bank’s office, officials of LSWMO were assaulted, promising to prosecute those behind the attack.
“Following a whistleblower complaint, I directed the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office team to visit the Access Bank Plc @myaccessbank 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 faecal matter into the public drainage system and causing severe damage to the environment.
“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.
“Consequently, the LSWMO team has taken samples of the effluent being discharged from the premises for laboratory analysis, and the results of the test came back positive.
“The state will also proceed to court to obtain the necessary orders for the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the attack on government officials carrying out their lawful duties.
“Meanwhile, enforcement officers will be reinforced to return and seal off the property tonight in line with the 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 wrote.