The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) has intensified its enforcement drive against environmental offenders by sealing a Chicken Republic outlet at Agungi, Ajiran Road, and a public toilet at Idi Araba, opposite the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), for discharging untreated sewage into public drains.
EpeInsights quotes the agency as saying that both facilities were caught using pumping machines to channel raw sewage directly into drainage systems, a practice described as hazardous, polluting, and detrimental to public health.
Speaking on the enforcement, the General Manager of LSWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, condemned the act as deliberate negligence.
He noted that the offenders failed to engage accredited sewage dislodgers to properly evacuate their septic tanks, choosing instead to pollute the environment and put lives at risk.
“This illegal act pollutes the environment and exposes citizens to communicable diseases through the discharge of untreated wastewater into drainage, roads and lagoons,” Afolabi said.
He reiterated Lagos State’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental pollution, warning that offenders will face strict sanctions and possible prosecution.
The GM also advised residents to adopt proper wastewater management and hygiene practices, stressing that safeguarding the environment is vital for public health and sustainable living in a megacity like Lagos.
“Every act of environmental nuisance portends grave dangers to the health of citizens. Our office remains undeterred in ensuring Lagos is safe, clean, and sustainable,” he added.
Afolabi urged members of the public to report any act of environmental abuse to the agency, providing its official hotlines (08022022397, 07025332163) and social media platforms for easy access.
The agency restated its commitment to ensuring compliance with environmental laws, as part of Lagos State’s broader vision of building a healthier and cleaner city.
