The Lagos State Government has accused Access Bank Plc of breaching environmental regulations after officials allegedly discovered the discharge of untreated wastewater from the bank’s head office in Oniru, Victoria Island.
The allegation was made public on Wednesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who disclosed that the state’s enforcement team encountered resistance while attempting to seal the facility.
According to Wahab, the action followed a whistleblower complaint that prompted him to direct the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) to inspect the bank’s headquarters located in Oniru.
During the inspection, officials reportedly found that the wastewater treatment plant within the premises was non-functional, leading to the discharge of untreated faecal matter into the public drainage system.
The commissioner said the development had caused “severe damage to the environment,” adding that the agency moved to seal the premises in line with environmental regulations.
However, Wahab stated that enforcement officers were denied entry into the premises by security personnel and management representatives of the bank when they attempted to carry out the sealing exercise.
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He further alleged that some members of the LSWMO team were attacked during the confrontation.
“Security personnel and management representatives of the bank resisted our officers and, in the process, attacked members of the enforcement team,” the commissioner said.
Despite the resistance, officials reportedly collected samples of the effluent being discharged from the facility. Wahab disclosed that laboratory analysis of the samples returned positive results, confirming the presence of untreated wastewater.
The commissioner announced that the state government would seek court orders to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in attacking government officials performing their lawful duties.
He added that enforcement officers would be reinforced and would return to seal off the property in accordance 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,” Wahab stated.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from Access Bank’s representative, Adekunle Aderinokun, were unsuccessful.
The development has drawn public attention to environmental compliance among major corporate organisations operating in Lagos, particularly regarding wastewater management and adherence to state environmental standards.