Lagos seals Access Bank VI branch over sewage discharge, obstruction of officials
The Lagos State Government has sealed a branch of Access Bank Plc in Victoria Island over the discharge of untreated sewage and alleged obstruction of regulatory officials.
The enforcement operation was carried out on Thursday by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), following a directive from the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
Wahab stated that the action became necessary after a whistleblower complaint prompted an inspection of the bank’s facility located in Oniru, where officials discovered that its wastewater treatment plant was not functioning.
“Following a whistleblower complaint, I directed the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office to visit the Access Bank Plc 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,” he said.
The commissioner added that officials initially encountered resistance during the enforcement visit, as security personnel and representatives of the bank allegedly denied them access to seal the premises.
He noted that samples of the discharged effluent were collected and analysed, confirming the presence of untreated sewage, which led to a reinforced enforcement operation and the eventual closure of the facility in line with environmental laws.
Wahab warned that the state government would take legal action against individuals or organisations found guilty of obstructing officials in the course of their duties, stressing that environmental regulations would be strictly enforced.
Also speaking, the General Manager of LSWMO, Adefemi Afolabi, assured that the agency remains committed to protecting public health and ensuring full compliance with environmental standards across the state.
