Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
July 27, 2015 – The Lagos State House of Assembly today passed a motion randomly calling on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct relevant government agencies to sanction churches, mosques and all those engage in noise pollution in the state.
The lawmakers noted that the use of public address should be discouraged by all those involved in noise pollution.
The House also charged Ambode of the state, to direct the General Manager of the state Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to discharge the statutory responsibility conferred on it by Section 9 (a) of the state Environmental Protection Agency Law, 1996.
Raising the motion titled “Need for Regulation of Noise Pollution in Lagos State” on the floor of the House, member representing Epe Constituency 1, Abiodun Tobun, decried the high level of noise pollution arising from the blaring of music by vendors, streets party organisers and outdoor advertisers as well as indiscriminate use of horns by motorists and cyclists on major highways in the states.
Tobun also noted culpability of churches, mosques and other faith-based organisations of noise pollution in the state through their various programmes like vigil, mobile preaching, tafsir and periodic calls to prayers.
The lawmaker said noise pollution has become a major source of health hazard as recently raised by the Nigeria Hearing and Speech Association (NHSA) that more Nigerians are suffering from hear impairment as a result of noise pollution.
He expressed worry that there is no proper enforcement of Section 9 (a) of the LASEPA Law 1996, aimed at controlling noise pollution in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos with over 15 million residents.
In his contribution, member representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Bisi Yusuf, explained that the best way to go about the issue, is proper enforcement of the existing regulation.
“When some people are praying, it will seem as if God is deaf and you begin to wonder may be God won’t answer their prayers if they don’t shout. We should call on these faith-based organisations to allow God rest; the existing regulations should be enforced.”
On his part, Gbolahan Yishawu, noted that the motion is timely, adding that in enforcing the regulation, we should ensure that construction companies and noise of generators should also be looked into.
The lawmakers said parks should also be included in the enforcement of the regulation. “Some motor parks also constitute to this issue of noise pollution and we must not overlook them in the enforcement of this regulation,” said Segun Olulade (Epe Constituency 2).
Member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2, Emeka Idimogu called for caution on the part of his colleagues in addressing the issue, noting that “we should use a persuasive approach in addressing it because we all made noise during the electioneering campaign and noise has become a part of us, we can’t change it overnight,” he said.
