14th December, 2023
The Lagos State Government has partnered religious houses in the state to tackle the menace of noise pollution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government on Wednesday organised a sensitisation workshop that witnessed a large turnout of representatives of various religious houses in the state.
The theme of the event, organised by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), was: “Achieving a Noiseless Lagos for a Healthy Citizenry.”
Speaking at the event, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, called on religious organisations and individuals to respect the extant laws regulating noise pollution in the state.
Ajayi said the objective of the event was to sensitise stakeholders to the need to conduct their activities and worship without constituting a nuisance to the environment and the neighbourhood.
He noted that LASEPA had received over 2,500 petitions from residents over noise pollution and environmental infractions by some religious practitioners in the state.
He explained that the monitoring and enforcement carried out by LASEPA were done without preference or bias to any religious affiliation.
He enjoined adherents of the different religious houses to ‘Stop the Noise, Not the Worship.”
Also speaking, the Special Advisers to the Governor on Religion (Christian), Rev. Bukola Adebiyi, and (Islam), Mr Abdullahi Jebe, called on the adherents of the different religions to respect the rights of others by reducing noise pollution.
They also called for more sensitisation and seminars on the dangers of noise pollution.
In her remarks, the Director, Noise and Emissions Control Department of LASEPA, Mrs Olabisi Shonibare, said exposure to noise pollution damages the ear drum.
Shonibare noted that the agency had taken its awareness campaign against noise pollution to event centres and clubs, adding that damages to the ear were irreplaceable.
She urged religious houses to monitor their noise levels using technology so as not to fall prey to the law.
NAN reports that most of the representatives of religious houses present at the event promised to sensitise their followers on the dangers of noise pollution.They promised to partner with the state government to achieve a noiseless Lagos.
It would be recalled that the state government had in recent past sealed some religious houses and entertainment centres in the state over noise pollution
(NAN)