The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) was established on the 1^st of November, 1996 by virtue of the LASEPA Edict No. 9 of 1996 (now Environment Management Protection Law 2017 Part VI)). The main thrust of the Agency is to protect and improve the environment, assist public and private organizations, industries, businesses and non-governmental organizations to achieve compliance by providing environment-friendly solutions to varied environmental challenges.

The Agency is a parastatal of the State Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and carries out its statutory functions through nine (9) Departments (7 MOE Departments with 2 non MOE departments)) with the assistance of ten (10) Units and four (4) Zonal Offices. The technical Departments are involved in laboratory services, monitoring and enforcement, research and data, and regulations, among others.

The functions of LASEPA impact on the activities of industries, commercial services, public and private sectors, communities and the environment at large.

As an implementing organ of the State’s policies on the environment, the Agency gives preference to and works hand-in-hand with other relevant stakeholders, as well as national and international Agencies on the environment. Consequently, LASEPA works under the ambit of national, state and local government laws (on the environment), multilateral treaties, agreements, conventions and protocols entered into by the national government with respect to the environment.