The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, has called on religious leaders in the state to be mindful of the use of public address systems or loudspeakers in public places, stating that it is now illegal to use such devices without proper adherence to noise regulations.
Dr. Ajayi made this declaration during a one-day stakeholders’ meeting themed “Achieving Noiseless Lagos for a Healthy Citizenry,” which brought together leaders and members of religious organisations.
During the meeting, he said noise pollution has become an issue, with a majority of the 2,500 reports received by LASEPA related to noise disturbances from religious organisations.
Addressing the religious leaders, Dr. Ajayi urged them to comply with noise regulation standards, adding that LASEPA has the mandate to establish regulations in residential, religious, commercial, industrial, or any other premises to control the psychological and physiological effects of noise on Lagos residents.
“We have the sole mandate of ensuring that we manage noise pollution, ensure peaceful co-existence among people, and improve their quality of life. Even as we move into the yuletide season, celebration doesn’t have to be noisy; you can celebrate with families and your congregation without necessarily constituting a nuisance. We can celebrate considerably and be mindful of the people around us,” he said.
During the meeting, Mrs. Olabisi Shonibare, the Director of Noise and Emission Control at LASEPA, expressed concerns about the adverse effects of noise pollution.
She said that Lagosians need to obtain noise control permits from LASEPA before holding public events or open-door activities, contributing to efforts to curb noise pollution.
“The effects of noise pollution are both psychological and physiological. It is a serious environmental and health hazard that can affect work productivity, cause sleeplessness, and lead to a loss of concentration and reasoning in humans,” Shonibare explained.
Shonibare advised religious institutions to take measures to mitigate noise, such as insulating walls and using soundproof windows and doors.
She also encouraged a reduction in the number of externally placed loudspeakers to minimise noise disturbances.
Dr. Abdullah Shuaib, Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-religious Council (NIREC) Lagos Chapter, clarified that the state government is not denying citizens the right to worship but stressed the need for tolerance and the adoption of technology to control noise pollution.
