YABATECH sewage facility sealed by Lagos Government for discharging raw sewage illegally, violating environmental laws and endangering public health

YABATECH sewage facility has been sealed by the Lagos State Government for allegedly discharging untreated sewage into the environment, in violation of environmental safety regulations.

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The enforcement was carried out by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, after multiple warning letters to the institution were reportedly ignored.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed the action in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, stating that the move became necessary following Yaba College of Technology’s continued non-compliance.

“The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office sealed off the dysfunctional sewage/wastewater treatment facility of Yaba College of Technology for illegally discharging raw sewage into the environment,” Wahab said.

He described the act as a direct violation of the Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017, which strictly prohibits the release of untreated wastewater or sewage into drains, canals, or natural water bodies.

Wahab stressed that such illegal discharges pose significant public health and environmental risks, undermining the state’s broader sustainability goals.

“The Lagos State Government frowns at every act of illegal discharge of wastewater, which is inimical to public health and environmental protection,” the commissioner added.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strict enforcement across both public and private institutions, insisting that compliance with wastewater standards was central to building a cleaner and flood-free Lagos.

The commissioner explained that the sealing of YABATECH’s facility forms part of the #ZeroToleranceLagos campaign, which targets individuals and organisations found guilty of pollution and environmental negligence.

Officials from the Wastewater Management Office noted that the agency had engaged YABATECH management on several occasions, offering technical guidance and compliance timelines before resorting to enforcement.

In a related move, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) recently sealed 11 establishments in Ikorodu for violating environmental laws, including persistent noise pollution and improper waste disposal.

The crackdown, which covered Agodo Gas Line, Odogunyan Industrial Layout, Haruna, Ipakodo Road, and Ebute areas, affected bars, lounges, hotels, and industrial outfits such as Zero Square Lounge, Starex Poly, Limpex Resources, and A-Star Pencil.

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The government reiterated that environmental offenders would face strict penalties to safeguard public health and restore Lagos’ ecological integrity.