The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency shut down 619 facilities in 2024 for various environmental violations.
These included worship centres, hotels, and other establishments.
LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja. He explained that noise pollution was responsible for 528 of the closures as the agency intensified its enforcement of environmental laws.
Ajayi said, “In 2024, we carried out 352 enforcement operations, which is three times the number conducted in 2023. These operations targeted households, hotels, and worship centres under the Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.”
He highlighted some of LASEPA’s key achievements for 2024, including launching the Lagos State Carbon Registry during the Sustainability Summit in September and installing 20 more air quality monitors, bringing the total to 43. The agency also introduced energy-efficient kilns for bakeries to help reduce air pollution in local communities.
The LASEPA boss also noted improvements in digital operations, such as upgraded laboratory services and streamlined processes for issuing permits and technical reports.
Looking ahead to 2025, Ajayi said the agency would strengthen public advocacy for environmental awareness and enforce laws more strictly.
“We will intensify action against noise pollution, enforce anti-smoking regulations by designating smoking and non-smoking zones, and promote proper waste management through authorised disposal bodies,” he said.
He also promised that public complaints would be handled more effectively through an expanded complaints centre and digital channels.
LASEPA plans to increase academic publications and public awareness campaigns to promote environmental consciousness.
