[JUST IN]: Lagos Govt Moves To Seal Access Bank Branch Over Pollution, Assault On Officials (Full Details)

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The Lagos State Government has vowed to seal a branch of Access Bank Plc located in Victoria Island over alleged environmental pollution and the reported attack on its enforcement officers during an inspection.

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.

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 added that samples of the discharged waste were collected and subjected to laboratory analysis, with results confirming environmental violations.

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.