As Security Operatives Reject N100,000 Bribe
- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Government has again sealed a Lekki-based restaurant, Donalds Fast Food, over alleged illegal waste disposal.
This is coming barely a year after it was shutdown for noise pollution
A disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the Chairman of the Lekki Estate Residents Association (LERA) had in the early hours of Saturday alerted the commission over a case of illegal dumping of refuse by a white Ford van along Durosimi-Etti Street in Lekki Phase 1.
The van with Abuja registration plates GWA 136E was apprehended by the estate’s Chief Security Officer after being caught in the act of indiscriminately discharging waste.
It was traced to Donald restaurant, a nightlife establishment located on Road 14 within the estate.
After being taken into custody at the LERA Secretariat, the apprehended staff of the restaurant reportedly attempted to bribe the security team with N100,000—an offer that was firmly declined.
The case was thereafter transferred to LAWMA’s Managing Director, Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who deployed the Monitoring and Compliance team to the location.
The team took custody of the suspects and immediately sealed the premises of DONALD restaurant for gross environmental violations, in breach of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.
Reacting to the incident, Wahab maintained that it reflected broader pattern of commercial operators’ non-compliance to waste disposal regulations in the estate.
The Commissioner commended the LERA Executives and their security team while pledging continued partnership with the association in identifying and sanctioning environmental defaulters.
While vowing to prosecute the offenders, Wahab reiterated LAWMA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations across Lagos.
He urged residents of the state to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and proper waste management practices
“This incident reflects a broader pattern of non-compliance among several commercial operators in Lekki Phase 1 who have failed to register with their assigned Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators.
“Many of these facilities have been implicated in repeated acts of illegal dumping, particularly during off-peak hours.
“LAWMA’s partnership with LERA continues to deliver tangible results in identifying and sanctioning environmental defaulters.
“The Authority commends the swift and principled response of the LERA Exco and their security team.
“The suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. LAWMA remains resolute in its commitment to enforcing environmental regulations across Lagos and urges all residents and businesses to adhere strictly to proper waste management practices.
“A clean and livable city is everyone’s responsibility.” He wrote.