The Lagos State Government on Friday sealed Total Filling Station located at St. Finbarr’s College road, Akoka, over alleged pollution of water sources used by residents in the community.
The shutdown order is coming about six weeks after PREMIUM TIMES reported how residents were exposed to hazards arising from water pollution caused by a fuel leakage in the community.
The report had detailed how residents face risks of health complications due to the exposure and continuous use of the polluted water. The pollution, PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed, was caused by a leakage that occurred allegedly from tanks belonging to Total filling station.
The operators had in May said they were not culpable, citing other possible sources.
But on Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said in a statement that the filling station’s underground tank reportedly had leakage which polluted water sources in the community.
He said that the intervention of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) prompted the filling station to correct the leakage and stop further pollution of the environment.
“Going forward, we have directed that an Environmental Forensic Audit be carried out immediately to determine the exact source and extent of the pollution,” he said.
Mr Durosinmi-Etti directed immediate closure of the filling station pending the outcome of the environmental forensic audit, adding that government would not hesitate to take any meaningful measure to protect the health and well-being of the citizenry.
The commissioner called for the decommissioning of boreholes installed by Total station as palliative for the affected residents. He also urged management of the Total Filling Station to liaise with the Lagos Water Corporation for the supply of pipe-borne water to the affected residents, while further findings on the pollution were ongoing.
He said LASEPA had been mandated to monitor and ensure the implementation of the directives given to the fuel station.
Multiple residents of the community spoke to PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter about the development Friday evening.
A resident of the community, who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation, confirmed that the station had been shut.
“They have shut down Total; they (operators of the station) have been mandated to adhere to the laid down procedures for proper investigation,” the resident said in a telephone interview Friday evening.
Another resident also told PREMIUM TIMES that more houses have been identified to have been affected by the pollution and the affected residents have also cried out due to the dangers inherent in the exposure.
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