Lagos Orders Churches To Remove Loud Speakers 
Published on July 28, 2010 by pmnews · 30 CommentsThe Lagos State Government has ordered all churches in Lagos, Nigeria, to immediately remove all external speakers from their churches as they constitute noise pollution to the society.
Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos State governor.
The order is sequel to a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, signed by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State Branch and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA.
The state government viewed continued disobedience by churches to remove their external loud speakers as uncalled for and therefore wants them to comply urgently before stricter measures would be adopted to abate the nuisance.
At the MOU between LASEPA and CAN, the government also wanted all churches to completely be enclosed to further curtail the noise during service in order not to disturb public peace and order.
The MOU was signed by LASEPA General Manager, Mr. Rasheed Shabi and the Director, Pollution Control Department, Mr. K.A. Fadairo for the state government and Pastor J.A. Fatokun, Pastor Olawoyin Lawrence and Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi for Lagos State CAN.
According to the agreement with government, CAN agreed that churches under its umbrella should remove external loud speakers from their places of worship in order not to disturb public peace.
The agency observed that many churches in the Lagos metropolis use residential plots, uncompleted buildings, makeshift shanties, shops/garages, flats and corridors and passages within tenements as worship centres, which clearly violate the town planning laws.
LASEPA warned churches that henceforth, vigils were to be held with all necessary abatement measures in place without disturbing the neighbourhood and that week day early morning and evening services must be held without disturbing the peace of others.
“In all these cases, amplifier, keyboard and other musical instruments are used both day and night to conduct vigils which exacerbate noise pollution within the state. It is noteworthy that religious noise comes with associated vibration from church activities,†the agency observed.
With the agreement reached, LASEPA had removed the regulation of time, period, frequency of worship services and restriction of use of musical instruments from noise pollution control policy if the abatement measures were put in place by the churches to prevent noise pollution.
In the MOU, CAN is expected to persuade its members to control the noise emanating from their worship centres to nationally acceptable limit of 55db during the day and 45db at night and that churches should be good examples of the golden rule in the Bible which reads “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.â€
The state government also said that while it would not ban churches from holding open-air crusades and preaching, churches willing to have open-air crusade must obtain permit from the police and LASEPA before doing so.
Both parties further agreed to accept liability for breach of any of the conditions and punishment in accordance with the provisions of LASEPA Edict as deemed necessary to serve as sufficient deterrent to prevent any further occurrence.
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What will happen to other non-christians who indulge in the use of loud speakers?
we need to be careful as not to see it as been partial since its a non-christian that is the governor.
What about Mosques where we have loudspeakers all over the top of the roofs. I think this is not a one sided affair. Government should not be biased as regards dealing with this issue.
Muslims call for prayers 5 times a day with loudspeakers – chanting in a language many non-Muslims find irritating because they can’t understand a word of it. What do you call that if not noise pollution? And why doesn’t the ban extend to them? The answer is OBVIOUS!
As much as this law is welcome, it should not be a one sided affair. What happens to all the mosques around lagos with Ahuja systems making the most noise five times a day? How about when they do late night Lailatu Quadri (apologies if mispelt) Any bad law is meant to be disobeyed. If nothing is done is this regard, this law will be seen as a bad law and we will disobey it.
Those so call pastors or Rev. who signed such MOU on behalf of CAN and christian in Lagos are betrayer of their faith. I wonder if they are true Pastor or just fake pastor been used by Islamic fundamentalist.
I am not too surprise about steps being taken by BRF against christian in Lagos and i think it is the fault of CAN and PFN in Lagos and Nigeria in general because one wonder why i should be allow to be taken such an anty christ poster while muslims are never check mate or stopped from early morning noise pollution.
We shall meet at the poll and use this against him by God’s grace. I hope christian will not cast their vote for these anti-christ who are parading themselves as a democrat. i have definitely changed my mind for BRF. Jesus IS LORD NO MATTER WHAT and i believe this will stair up the fire of evangelism among Christians.
Finally, let out pastors stop patronizing and collecting’ brow envelop’ from our government.
A.A.
You should stop been over sentimental. One does not need to install the biggest loud speaker on earth to spread the gospel. The early Christians prayed in rooms and even in secret and not disturbing a whole community.
Fashola is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria in recent time. Your single vote will not make any difference. How are you sure that your pastors and churches are serving the true God.
Remember, What is good unto you do so unto others. Christ advised that we should go and preach the gospel and the Early Christians that came to Nigeria were good example of how Christianity should be
You shoud be ashame of yur self bolag. Must you make noise before you spread the gospel. How will you feel if you work all day and came back to the luxury of your home and the next house is holding a vigil and blaring it loud speaker all in the name of preaching the gospel. Well done to those who signed the deal and please, let make the muslim to do the same also.
I dont give a damn,I am a christian, but uuuuuugh! these my christian brothers are driving me the f….ck nuts. I was at a hotel in Ikeja having a little R&R and unbeknownst to me, some pentecostal armed robbers where holding a tighting fest in the immediate next room frm mine. I simply work up in the wee hrs of the morning wondering whether I was in the nightmare of iraq.I simply kicked the door down and told them that I was the devil and they all ran away. makes you wonder if the real devil actually came, would they stand and bind and cast or would they scamper?
I think this is a welcome development. We christians must not support anything that constitutes public nuisance like noise pollution from loudspeakers that murder people’s sleep and comfort in their residential areas in the name of worshipping God. However, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The christian leaders who signed these documents must insist that muslims do same by removing those external loudspeakers from their mosques. Nobody whether christian or muslim has the right to deny people of the comfort of their residential homes.
I am disappointed with the young governor, Mr.Fashola. How on earth will Fashola single out christians using outdoor speakers as noise pollutants?. Do you know how christains have been praying for this government to succeed?.
So Fashola have never thought of CD sellers, tomatoes griding machines, generators that are been used in public places all over Lagos, but Christain outdoor speakers. Its terrible. My advice is that you should be careful not to do something you will regret the rest of your measured life on earth. Cann’t you see why IBB is suffering in Nigeria?. I was in the university when I told a friend that Babangida will live to regret all the sentimental actions he took against Nigerians and Nigeria. Fashola, you are too young to dive into religious issues in Nigeria. Religion is a personal thing, do not be deceived.
The original ban was to all religious organizations. Not to churches alone. The mosques have been given same order. Eko o ni baje I.A
The bible says go ye into the world and preached the gospel to all creature and also says faith cometh by hearing and by hearing the word of God. many has turned back from evil motive through morning cry by christains . how do you think that indoors help the word of God reaching out to peoples. Please remember that its God make’s a leader .apostle Paul SAYS I AM WHAT I AM THROUGH CHRIST WHOM STREAGHTNETH ME. please don’t do anything contrary to the the word of God .long life Nigeria long life A C.
FASHOLA(SAN), it remains MOSQUE, CD sellers and so on, pls dont be bias and also be careful of action that could stain your good image. LONG LIVE A.C, LAGOS AND NIGERIA.
Its no more news but who is perfect among d politicians lest we forget stop “Religion bigotry” today
ELIJAH DECIDED TO MAINTAIN A TEMPORARY SHUT UP BECAUSE OF THE AC ACOLYTES/INTERNET WARRIORS THAT SAW(HIM) ELIJAH AS ANTI-FASHOLA EVEN WHEN I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED HIS ANTI-SOCIETY ACTIONS. FASHOLA IS GOING SOMEWHERE. THE MORE YOU LOOK, THE LESS YOU SEE
The Governor should be properly advised not to dabble into religious matter as this could be detrimental to his future aspirations,he should not be seen as been biased,because religious matter could consume him,take it or leave it,churches are beyond the Governor’s threat.Thread softly Mr Governor,not to overstep your boundary.I am watching to see how this unfolds,don’t rubbish your achievements and be seen as a religious begot.Lagos is free of religious crisis,at least for now,so don’t create sentiments between religions.A word is enough for the wise.
How about our Muslim brothers who are causing us so much pain every day 5am with loud speakers,do so something about that,its important our their Governor address that issue
This is a very welcome development. You cannot be disturbing others in the name of religion. I am surprised that some people are bringing unnecessary sentiments into the issue. I have seen an instance where four adjoining houses where used for religious worship by different christain denominations and no body could hear anything as they were all competing with their loudspeakers to out do each other. The truth is that it is morally wrong and sinful to discomfort others in the pursuit of your selfish interest. There is a need to bring the noise level in Lagos down and we all should encourage and not crucify anybody who ia trying to achieve that. Long live Lagos State.
Legbo Kutigi, u made me laugh! lol! did u actually did that? You craze well well oh! lol! u no u are my kind of person! oh boy!
THISWAS A WELCOME NEWS BUT MUST INCLUDE THE SPEAKER IN THE MOSQUE BECAUSE THE MOSLEM ARE THE REAL NOISE MAKERS
I kinda worried about why Mosques are not asked to do away with there loud-public-address. This action aplies to the two religions…Gov you have to revisit this mater to avoid religious issues…
I am not against noise pollution, but my worry is that CAN signed an agreement that does not cover all the parties involved. why should the govt signed a pact on noise pollutions with CAN alone or
1. are they trying to use CAN to force the muslims to sign?
2. are they saying the mosques are irrelevant?
3. is there a silent war against the christian faith?
No man can kick against the pricks so says the holy book
I am absolutely happy for this development. Now Islamic sect should also be asked to remove all the External sepaker.
Pls Pm news pls tell the Lagos State goverment to let the rule cuts accross all religion in the state.
this is a welcome wicked development if touts, record selles, garage loudss & mosques are left out. Non Lagosians & christian pay taxes as well.
i believe the gov will have a good reason for excluding the mosques or am i sleeping..There is a mosque behind me house that wakes me up at 5am i feel like blowing the place up cos they are infringing on my rights what about them ? cant they set personal alarms?
Please don’t expect them to ask the Mosque to remove their speakers too. The reason it that a church continues to be a church even without speakers, but once you remove the speakers from a mosque, it seizes to be a mosque. So let the church be quiet and let the mosque shout.
this is good,inasmuch this decision is for the benefit of the populace,i believed it would have be a general thing.that is any organization using public address loud speaker that can cause noise pollution should be removed. this would have inturn create a level -plain ground.
Dear for asking the mouth piece of jehova God to shut up.let’s see how far you will go.
speakers are not mouth piece of Jehova GOD, our GOD is a GOD of peace, He does not constitute public nuisance
there is a church called Christ Awaited Liberation Ministry directly behind my house along Awolowo way, Ikeja – Lagos. they usually starts sunday service by 9:00am, buy will start playing very loud music as early as 6:00am. they have their loud speakers hanged at their frontage. this has been constituting serious nuisance to my family and neighbours. Christian Association of Nigeria and LASEPA should please come to our aid.