LASG, Religious organizations partner to stop noise pollution

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday sought the partnership of religious organizations in the state to tackle the menace of noise pollution.

The meeting with stakeholders witnessed a large turnout of representatives of various religious organizations in the state.

The theme of the event, organized by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is: “Achieving a Noiseless Lagos for a Healthy Citizenry.”

Speaking at the event, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, called on religious houses and individuals in the state to respect the extant laws regulating noise pollution in the state.

Ajayi said that the objective of the event was to sensitive stakeholders present on the need to conduct their activities and worship without constituting nuisance to the environment and the neighborhood.

He noted that LASEPA had received over 2500 petitions from residents over noise pollution and environmental infractions by some religious practitioners.

He explained that the monitoring and enforcement carried out by LASEPA staff 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 workshops and seminars on the dangers of noise pollution.

In her remarks, the Director, Noise and Emissions Control Department of LASEPA, Mrs Olabisi Shonibare said that exposure to noise pollution damages the ear drum.

Shonibare noted that the agency has taken it’s awareness campaign against noise pollution to events centers 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.

 Most of the representatives of religious houses present at the event promised to go home to sensitize their followers on the dangers of noise pollution.

They promised to partner with the state government to ensure that together, achieving a noiseless Lagos would be achieved.

It would be recalled that the state government had in recent past sealed some religious houses  and entertainment centers in the state over noise pollution.