The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, also known as KAI, has uncovered an illegal oil bunkering hub in Lagos and arrested 27 suspects allegedly found with counterfeit naira notes. The discovery was made during an enforcement operation carried out by the agency’s special squad following actionable intelligence.
The Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd.), briefed journalists at the agency’s headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi, where he described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against environmental crimes and illegal economic activities in the state.
According to Cole, the agency had been monitoring the location after receiving reports that an unlicensed depot was operating within a residential area and storing adulterated petroleum products. He said the illegal operation posed serious risks to public health, community safety, and the general environment.
The Corps Marshal explained that the site was not only used for storing and adulterating fuel but also served as a base for criminals who allegedly transacted in counterfeit naira notes. He noted that most of the illegal activities at the depot were carried out at night, enabling the group to evade detection.
“The illegal depot was operating as a bunkering hub, and intelligence reports showed that the operators used the place to store and adulterate petroleum products. It also provided cover for individuals who carried out transactions with fake currency, especially at night, targeting unsuspecting residents and vendors,” Cole said.
He added that such operations pose a double threat—economic sabotage through the adulteration of petroleum products and financial harm caused by the circulation of counterfeit money. Both actions, he stressed, are criminal offences that endanger ordinary citizens and disrupt economic activity in the affected communities.
Cole said the agency’s special squad stormed the location after days of surveillance and intelligence gathering. Upon arrival, the operatives discovered makeshift storage facilities, including large drums and jerry cans filled with suspected adulterated diesel.
He described the site as unsafe, with poor safety measures and structures that risked triggering explosions or large fires capable of spreading to nearby homes and businesses. The environment also showed signs of contamination due to leakage from the stored products.
“The conditions we found on ground were hazardous. The unlicensed depot had makeshift structures with no regard for safety standards. The storage equipment was leaking and could have caused a major fire outbreak. This kind of operation is a danger to both residents and the environment,” he said.
Environmental experts have long warned that illegal bunkering and fuel adulteration contribute significantly to soil and water pollution, weaken building foundations, and pose constant fire threats. Lagos, being a densely populated city with frequent traffic and close residential clusters, is especially vulnerable.
The Corps Marshal explained that following the raid, LAGESC dismantled all illegal structures, seized the adulterated petroleum products, and secured the premises. The 27 suspects found at the site—most of whom were linked to the counterfeit currency transactions—were taken into custody for further investigation.
Reiterating LAGESC’s commitment to keeping Lagos clean and safe, Cole said the agency’s operations are aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ development agenda. He noted that tackling environmental offences, illegal structures, and disorderliness remains a key component of creating a livable city.
He stressed that routine surveillance would continue to ensure that similar illegal operations are identified and swiftly shut down. According to him, environmental sanitation is not only about waste management but also about preventing activities that endanger lives and disrupt normal urban development.
“As part of the THEMES+ agenda, we are committed to maintaining a safe and livable environment in Lagos. We will continue to carry out surveillance, enforce regulations, and respond to intelligence reports. Environmental crimes, including illegal bunkering, must not be allowed to thrive,” he stated.
Cole also used the press briefing to advise residents to be more vigilant and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods. He said illegal fuel depots often hide in plain sight, operating behind residential buildings, inside abandoned structures, or under the guise of other businesses.
He warned that living close to such dangerous facilities exposes communities to severe hazards. Explosions from illegal bunkering sites have caused tragic losses in many Nigerian cities in the past, including Lagos, where several fatal incidents have been recorded in the last decade.
Beyond the bunkering case, the Corps Marshal also appealed to Lagos residents to make use of pedestrian bridges rather than crossing major highways. He said the growing rate of accidents involving pedestrians is worrying and that many deaths are avoidable.
He urged Lagosians to cooperate with safety officers and take responsibility for personal safety. “Pedestrian bridges are built for your safety. We appeal to residents to avoid running across highways where vehicles move at high speed. These accidents are preventable,” he added.
This latest bust adds to a series of recent operations carried out by LAGESC targeting illegal street trading, environmental pollution, unregulated markets, and unsafe structures. The agency says such crackdowns are necessary to maintain order in a rapidly growing city like Lagos.
Illegal oil bunkering, although more common in the Niger Delta, has increasingly been discovered in Lagos, often tied to black market fuel sellers and criminal networks. The circulation of counterfeit naira notes is another problem that affects small businesses, petrol stations, and roadside vendors.
With the arrest of the 27 suspects and the dismantling of the illegal depot, LAGESC says it is confident that it has disrupted a network that threatened the community’s safety and economic wellbeing.
The arrested suspects will be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution. Meanwhile, LAGESC says it will continue monitoring the area to ensure the illegal operation does not return.
Residents of the affected community have praised the agency for the intervention, expressing relief that a dangerous operation close to their homes has finally been shut down.
