Noise Pollution In Lagos

The noise pollution in Lagos State is alarming and the crass disobedience of the law against it is preposterous.

The state House of Assembly had in June 2009 enacted a law that set the acceptable noise levels in Lagos at 55 and 45 decibels for day and night, respectively.

The law also prohibits religious organisations from using external loudspeakers during worship.

According to the law, the early morning service should not commence before 7a.m. and midweek services should not exceed 9 p.m. and should be conducted without musical instruments.

Music soundproof systems are required and shop owners who often play loud music are also covered by the legislation.

Besides, the International Financial Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency noise thresholds are 55 decibels for residential areas and 70 decibels for industrial and commercial places.

These noise level restrictions are meant to create a decent and a healthy environment for all residents.

Sadly, the law is not being obeyed by the residents and enforcement by the authorities seems to have failed.

Daily, high-decibel songs blare endlessly from shops along busy streets while churches and mosques make things even worse with their loud speakers erected right on rooftops in residential areas.

While mosques often wake us early in the morning, church services, their vigils and deliverance programmes often keep us awake late into the night.

The buzzing of generating sets, honking of car or truck horns and sirens from endless convoys of government officials are all making Lagos, a very unhealthy place to live in.

Noise disrupts the tranquillity of the environment and affects climate and human health negatively. It plays a key role in many illnesses, including heart diseases.

Lagos cannot certainly continue that way. The law has to be enforced for some sanity and decency to return.

We call on the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency  which had closed down some churches and mosques due to noise pollution to continue with the sensitisation exercises and implementation of the law for decency to return.

It is only then that Lagos can reclaim its status of State of Excellence.