[p]The Lagos State Government has issued a decisive order to seal Dowen College following investigations that revealed serious violations of environmental waste disposal regulations at the prestigious Lekki institution.
[/p][p]The drastic action was announced via an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who expressed the government's zero-tolerance stance towards environmental violations.
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[p]In his strongly-worded post, Wahab revealed that the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps had traced improperly disposed waste directly to the college premises in Lekki Phase 1, prompting immediate regulatory action. "Such blatant disregard for environmental laws is completely unacceptable in our state," the commissioner declared.
[/p][p]The commissioner has directed the Corps Marshal to immediately proceed with sealing the school premises, emphasizing that the government will not hesitate to take firm action against any institution, regardless of its status, that flouts environmental regulations.
[/p][p]This development marks another chapter in Dowen College's troubled history with regulatory authorities. The elite institution previously faced government sanctions in 2021 when it was indefinitely closed following the controversial death of 12-year-old student Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., a case that sparked nationwide outrage and scrutiny of the school's management practices.
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[p]Environmental experts have praised the government's swift action, noting that improper waste disposal poses significant public health risks in densely populated urban areas like Lekki. The sealing order comes as part of Lagos State's broader environmental sanitation campaign aimed at enforcing compliance with waste management laws across all sectors.
[/p][p]Parents and stakeholders in the education sector are watching closely as this latest incident raises fresh questions about operational standards at one of Lagos' most prominent private schools. The government has assured the public that the sealing will remain in effect until the institution demonstrates full compliance with all environmental regulations.
[/p][p]This enforcement action serves as a stern warning to other institutions across the state that the current administration will not tolerate environmental violations, regardless of an organization's profile or clientele.
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