The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports claiming it sought a court injunction to halt the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025.

Addressing the claims on Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the police did not initiate any legal action to prevent the demonstration. He emphasized that Nigerians have a constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest.

“It is an inalienable right of Nigerians to protest, and we did not approach the court to stop these gatherings,” Hundeyin stated via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He also addressed inaccuracies in some media reports, noting, “The case was not adjourned to Tuesday as mentioned in some reports; it reflects a one-sided narration and lacks the depth of investigative journalism.”

The clarification came after media reports alleged that the police had asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the protest. The court reportedly declined the request, allowing the protest to proceed.

Reacting to the court’s decision, protest convener and activist Omoyele Sowore hailed the ruling as a victory for civil liberties. He claimed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had directed police lawyers to file a suit aimed at halting the protest, which is scheduled to take place near Aso Rock Villa.

The protest, aimed at demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, has drawn significant attention and continues to generate debate over freedom of expression, security, and civil rights in Nigeria.

The police statement appears intended to de-escalate tensions ahead of the protest and reaffirm the force’s commitment to upholding the rights of citizens while maintaining public order.

The Lagos State Government has sealed the sewage and wastewater treatment facility at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) following allegations that the institution was discharging raw, untreated sewage into the environment in violation of state environmental laws.

The enforcement action was carried out by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO), operating under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, after the college reportedly ignored multiple warning letters and failed to address long-standing environmental compliance issues.

Announcing the development, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the college’s actions constituted a serious breach of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017. The law explicitly prohibits the discharge of untreated wastewater or sewage into public drains, canals, or any part of the natural environment.

“The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office has sealed off the non-functional sewage and wastewater treatment facility of Yaba College of Technology due to its illegal discharge of raw sewage into the environment,” Wahab said in a statement.

He described the situation as a major public health risk, noting that untreated human waste contributes to the contamination of water sources, the spread of waterborne diseases, and general environmental degradation. Wahab emphasized that institutions, whether public or private, are not exempt from compliance with environmental laws and standards.

“Illegal discharge of wastewater not only endangers the health of residents but also undermines our efforts to maintain a sustainable, safe, and flood-resilient Lagos. The state government has zero tolerance for environmental infractions and will continue to enforce compliance,” the commissioner said.

#ZeroToleranceLagos Campaign

The sealing of YABATECH’s facility forms part of the state’s ongoing #ZeroToleranceLagos campaign—an initiative aimed at holding individuals, businesses, and institutions accountable for environmental violations. According to the Ministry, the campaign is designed to protect public health, improve environmental quality, and reduce pollution across Lagos.

Officials from the Wastewater Management Office said they had repeatedly engaged YABATECH’s management before resorting to enforcement. Technical guidance and timelines for achieving compliance were provided, but the institution allegedly failed to take corrective action.

Broader Enforcement Actions Across Lagos

In a related development, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has continued its crackdown on environmental violators across the state. On Thursday, the agency sealed 11 establishments in the Ikorodu area for various infractions, including persistent noise pollution, improper waste disposal, and failure to obtain necessary environmental permits.

The affected businesses include bars, hotels, lounges, and industrial facilities. Among those sealed are Zero Square Bar & Lounge, Limpex Resources, Starex Poly, Skipper Nigeria Ltd, NDO Hotel & Suites, Beechwood Guest House, Embassy Lounge, and A-Star Pencil.

The enforcement operation targeted several key areas in Ikorodu, such as Agodo Gas Line, Odogunyan Industrial Layout, Ita Oluwo Junction, Haruna, Ipakodo Road, and Ebute.

LASEPA stated that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to promote environmental responsibility and ensure that all sectors adhere to the state’s environmental protection framework.

Commitment to Sustainable Development

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to creating a healthier and more livable environment for its residents. Officials say that environmental compliance is central to the state’s climate resilience agenda and a critical step toward achieving its goals for a cleaner, greener Lagos.

Commissioner Wahab urged all public institutions, private companies, and individuals to align with the state’s environmental policies, warning that non-compliance would attract strict penalties, including fines, facility closures, and potential legal action.

“Lagos is committed to enforcing all existing environmental laws. Institutions must lead by example, and no one is above the law when it comes to protecting our environment,” Wahab added.

The situation at YABATECH serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of environmental negligence and the growing resolve of the Lagos State Government to ensure strict enforcement of environmental standards across the state.

The Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), a registered non-governmental organization is calling on the Lagos State Government to help recover its charitable property -a 20-foot recycling container at Elegushi Beach, allegedly seized by Box Mall/SOL Beach management.

In a statement, Ms Doyinsola Ogunye, Founder of MEDIC, lamented that the interventions of the state government including relevant environmental bodies, and law enforcement agencies have become necessary as all efforts to remove the container valued at ₦44,046,500 (as of September 2024) to a new site at Akodo Ise, Ibeju-Lekki, failed.

This includes beautification trees planted by MEDIC at the front of the beach.

According to Ms Ogunye, tensions began in 2024 when the landlord entered a new partnership with SOL Beach by Box Mall without prior notice to relocate its equipment or inform its donors.

The organization stated that despite efforts to cooperate with the new management, conflict arose in early 2025 after Box Mall allegedly demanded that MEDIC remove its 20-foot recycling container — donated by the Nigerian Bottling Company — within three days or risk it being dismantled.

MEDIC’s Board of Trustees subsequently resolved to relocate all assets to a new site at Ibeju-Lekki.

On 31 March 2025, the organisation formally notified Box Mall in writing, requesting supervised access to retrieve its assets.

However, Ohibaba.com learned that the management of Sol Beach By Box, in a letter of acknowledgement dated April 4, 2025, was demanding for rental payments over alleged evacuation delays by MEDIC.

MEDIC, however countered , and said ” There were never agreed timelines for us to remove our assets from the Premises. You have however detained our assets for your personal and business use since you took over possession of the Premises and have refused us access and entry to the Premises to remove our assets.

Sol Beach management, however insisted: ” It is important to note that all previously agreed timelines for the removal of these assets have now expired, yet no action has been taken.

As a result, we must now implement a daily space rental charge of N150,000, effective April 14, 2025, for any assets that remain on-site beyond this date.

To prevent the removal or scrapping of these assets by Sol Beach, we strongly urge you to fulfill your commitment to their removal.”

Meanwhile, founded in 2011, MEDIC is recognised globally for its work in tree planting, recycling, and ocean conservation efforts.

Through its flagship project, The Kids Beach Garden, established in 2015, MEDIC has educated thousands of children, empowered women and youth through green jobs, and implemented tree adoption and coastal restoration programs supported by local and international partners.