Funmi Ogundare
The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, has called on religious leaders in the state to be mindful of the use of public address systems or loud speakers to propagate beliefs or ideals in public places, saying that it is now illegal to use such.
Ajayi, who disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting themed, ‘Achieving Noiseless Lagos for a Healthy Citizenry’, with the leadership and members of religious organisations, explained that out of the 2,500 reports on noise pollution brought to his office, majority were from religious organisations.
He urged them to comply with the noise regulations standards, adding that his office has the mandate to make regulations on such in any residential, religious, commercial, industrial or any other premises with a view to controlling the psychological and physiological effects on Lagosians.
According to him, “we have the sole mandate of ensuring that we manage noise pollution, ensure peaceful co-existence among people and improve their quality of life.
“Even as we move into the yuletide season, celebration doesn’t have to be noisy , you can celebrate with families and your congregation without necessarily constituting a nuisance. We can celebrate considerably and be mindful of the people around us.”
In her presentation, the Director, Noise and Emission Control, LASEPA, Mrs. Olabisi Shonibare expressed concern about the effects of noise pollution saying that Lagosians will need to seek for noise control permit from her office to hold public programmes or open door activities with the aim of curbing the pollution.
“The effects of noise pollution is both psychological and physiological. It is a serious environment and health hazard which can affect work productivity. it also causes sleeplessness, loss of concentration and reasoning in humans,” she stated.
Shonibare advised Nigerians to ensure that sound does not turn into noise saying that worship centres need to insulate their walls, use sound proof windows and doors to prevent noise from going out, adding, ” churches and mosques are to reduce the number of externally placed loud speakers to the barest minimum.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, Nigerian Inter-religious Council (NIREC), Lagos Chapter, Dr. Abdullah Shuaib explained that the state government is not denying Nigerians the right to worship, but here is need for them to be tolerant and adopt the use of technology to curb noise pollution.
“There are people who are undergoing different ailments, so noise could aggravate such. There is a need for Nigerians to become ambassadors by propagating a noiseless and peaceful environment where the youths can appreciate nature,” he stated.
