The Lagos state government has closed about 53 churches, mosques
and hotels in the state due to noise pollution and environmental
offences.
The Punch reports that some of the religious centres were operating inside residential apartment which has been a sort of worry and constituting nuisance to the people.
Adebola Shabi who is the general manger of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) said complaints from residents and neighbours necessitated the closure of the centres.
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 said that the centres had already been served notice before the exercises were carried out. He noted that some of the religious centres operated in makeshift locations and the level of noise pollution they were causing was enormous.
“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 noted however that people were getting to understand the issue of noise pollution and that the tolerance level had increased. He said religious centres now understood the need to comply with the directives.
He also explained that the hotels were closed because they did not submit environmental report.
He also said the use of pit latrines would not be accepted as the government would not allow improper sewage disposal.
The Punch reports that some of the religious centres were operating inside residential apartment which has been a sort of worry and constituting nuisance to the people.
Adebola Shabi who is the general manger of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) said complaints from residents and neighbours necessitated the closure of the centres.
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 said that the centres had already been served notice before the exercises were carried out. He noted that some of the religious centres operated in makeshift locations and the level of noise pollution they were causing was enormous.
“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 noted however that people were getting to understand the issue of noise pollution and that the tolerance level had increased. He said religious centres now understood the need to comply with the directives.
He also explained that the hotels were closed because they did not submit environmental report.
He also said the use of pit latrines would not be accepted as the government would not allow improper sewage disposal.
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