Donald’s Lounge, owned by social media sensation Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, found itself on the wrong side of the law as the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) enforced a shutdown order on Sunday.
The crackdown comes after a chorus of complaints from local residents and businesses, who have long bemoaned the cacophony emanating from the trendy establishment. Despite repeated warnings, the lounge allegedly continued to push the decibel envelope, prompting officials to take decisive action.
Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, justified the closure, citing public health concerns.
“We cannot allow the pursuit of pleasure to jeopardise the well-being of our citizens,” Wahab declared, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to environmental violations.
LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, echoed this sentiment, stressing the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to excessive noise.
“This shutdown serves as a wake-up call to all businesses that flout our environmental regulations,” Ajayi warned.
The closure of Donald’s Lounge is part of a broader crackdown on environmental nuisances in Lagos, with other establishments, including religious institutions and hotels, facing similar sanctions. As the dust settles, all eyes are on Cubana Chief Priest and his team to see how they’ll respond to this setback and whether they can strike a harmonious chord with both patrons and neighbours alike.
For now, the silence in Lekki Phase 1 speaks volumes about the government’s commitment to maintaining environmental standards in Africa’s largest metropolis.