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.
Source:
Punchng
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