CITIZENS COMPASS— The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI on Wednesday, said it disrupted the operations of a budding oil bunkering syndicate and effected the arrest of 27 miscreants found in possession of fake naira notes during an enforcement operation at The Rock Drive, Lekki Phase 1 on Wednesday.
This was disclosed by the Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) at the Agency’s Headquarters in Bolade-Oshodi.
According to him, ‘‘We discovered via intelligence reports how the activities of an unlicensed depot and oil bunkering enclave impacted the environment negatively thereby constituting a threat to public health and safety whilst providing cover for miscreants found in possession of fake naira notes used to transact at night to unsuspecting vendors and well-meaning Nigerians’’.
Cole revealed how operatives of the Agency’s special squad stormed the suspected location used by the oil bunkering syndicate for storage, adulteration and distribution of petroleum products. Highlighting the unwholesome effects of these illegal activities which could cause fire outbreaks, soil contamination and potential harms to residents and places of businesses in the area, he revealed how makeshift storage structures, several drums and jerry cans were filled with adulterated diesel products.
The KAI top man underscored the importance of halting all ongoing illegal storage and bunkering activities by dismantling illegal supply connections in the illegal depot already found in contravention of environmental laws, thereby securing the premises while 27 miscreants operating within the compound and transacting with fake naira notes were arrested.
The retired Major reiterated the commitment of the Agency to reducing the spate of environmental infractions in the State via constant monitoring of Lagos environs for actionable enforcement to ensure that Lagos is safe and habitable for business as enshrined in the THEMES+ agenda of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Aligning with the tenets of safety in the final part of his statement, the head of the premier environmental enforcement Agency in the State sued for increased usage of strategically-erected pedestrian bridges across the State to prevent avoidable deaths caused by speeding motorists on the highways.
