The Lagos State Government has shut
down no fewer than 53 churches,
mosques and hotels across the state
over noise pollution and other
environmental offences.
Some of the sealed worship centres
were accused of converting residential
apartments to places of worship, which
according to the government has been
constituting nuisance to other residents.
The General Manager, Lagos State
Environmental Protection Agency,
LASEPA, Adebola Shabi, after the
exercise, said the agency had been
inundated with complaints from
residents and neighbours of the shut
facilities.
He said, “In recent times, most of the
petitions kept coming to us. It was as if
we are not working at all. That was why
we shut the facilities.”
Shabi explained that some of the
affected facilities had been served
abatement notices before the eventual
closure, adding that the growing rate of
establishment of worship centres called
for serious regulations, especially in the
areas of noise generated across the
state.
He said some of the noise-making
worship centres were usually makeshift
structures.
Shabi said, “You cannot have makeshift
structures and say you want to be
conducting services or vigils there.
Definitely, you will be disturbing your
neighbours. So, the government won’t
allow the use of makeshift structures as
a church or mosque.
“Nobody is allowed to make a noise
above 55 decibel during the day in
residential areas and only 45 decibel is
allowed in such areas at night. In
industrial areas, 90 decibel of noise
level is allowed during the day, while
the noise rate must not exceed 80
decibel at night.”
He, however, observed that the
compliance level was increasing, saying
more residents had understood the
effect of noise polution, while some
religious houses had complied with the
noise pollution regulations.
The LASEPA boss explained that the
hotels were shut for failing to conduct
and submit Environmental Impact
Assessment report.
Shabi added that the state government
would not condone improper disposal of
sewage, saying the usage of old latrines
was unacceptable.
