The Lagos State Government has moved against an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps after a viral video appeared to show him collecting a N20,000 bribe from suspected environmental offenders.

In the footage, several alleged lawbreakers are seen packed into an enforcement van, reportedly after being apprehended for environmental infractions. The officer, dressed in the official uniform of the Environmental Sanitation Corps, is captured receiving cash from individuals inside the vehicle. The payment is alleged to have been made in exchange for their release and to prevent their arraignment before a mobile court.

The video, widely circulated across social media platforms, triggered public outrage and renewed concerns about petty corruption within enforcement agencies in Lagos. Many commentators questioned whether routine environmental enforcement has become a revenue stream for unscrupulous officials rather than a tool for maintaining public order and cleanliness.

Responding to the outcry, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the officer had been identified and formally queried. He described the conduct seen in the video as a clear violation of the standards expected of public servants.

Wahab said a Personnel Management Board will be convened to investigate the incident under the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations. The board is expected to review the evidence, take statements from the officer and witnesses, and recommend appropriate sanctions if the allegations are substantiated.

The commissioner reiterated that the state maintains a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct within its public service, stressing that any officer found culpable would face disciplinary measures in line with existing regulations.

He also used the incident to caution members of the public against attempting to induce officials with cash or other benefits, noting that offering a bribe is a criminal act on the same footing as receiving one. Wahab urged residents to comply with environmental laws, cooperate with legitimate enforcement, and report any suspected extortion or abuse of power through official channels.

The case has become a test of the government’s resolve to clean up its enforcement agencies, with civil society groups and residents watching closely to see whether the promised disciplinary process will lead to transparent and decisive action.