The Lagos State government has threatened to prosecute the management of worship and entertainment centres that use loudspeakers without control while worshipping or entertaining their audience.
The state’s Environment and Water Resources commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the 10th annual Noiseless Lagos Advocacy summit, which had the theme of Curbing Noise Pollution in a Mega City.
The commissioner, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Water Resources, Engineer Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, explained that the gathering was to address the impact of noise pollution on our health, environment and quality of life as a people.
He said the annual Noiseless Lagos advocacy is part of the Lagos State government’s programmes, aimed at reawakening residents’ consciousness of the need to curb excessive noise from daily activities because of their impact on human health and the environment.
He said, “The theme for the 10th year Noiseless Lagos advocacy: Curbing Noise in a Mega City is very apt and instructive. It is a clarion call on individuals, organisations, worship centers, religious bodies, entertainment industries and the likes in the urban and the inter land to follow and abide by the standard regulations and approved noise levels across all locations, that is, Schools Environment 35 by day/35 at nights, Residential Areas 55 by day, 45 at night, Commercial Centers 70 by day/ 60 at night, Industrial areas: 85/65 at night and the mixed regions: 65 by day and 55 at night.
“In the last 18 months alone, LASEPA has received 1,616 noise pollution-related complaints from the activities of our worship centres, industries, entertainment nightlife, bars and Lounges. Clubs and Musical organisations, among others. Of these numbers, the agency had successfully enforced about 610 complaints, including closure of some of these organisations or application of fines where necessary.”
Wahab added that as the ministry in charge of environmental sustainability, it has empowered LASEPA to scale up its enforcement strategy on noise pollution, , saying, ‘’the agency will be more strict in its monitoring and enforcement of compliance level with noise pollution regulations in every part of the state and there is no going back.
“This is therefore a warning to our stakeholders, especially, worship centers, industrial organisations, entertainment industries, Lounges, Bar and Nightlife operators, motor garages and the likes to please adhere strictly with government regulations on the approved decibels in various places as violators of the regulations risk prosecution by the dictates of the Law.’’
In his welcome remarks, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, said there is an urgent need to address the growing challenges of noise pollution because of its grave consequences for people’s health, including hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases, stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, sleep disruptions, and lost productivity, among other noise-induced health challenges.
