An expert in environmental pollution, Mr Soremekun Joseph; the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mr Babatunde Ajayi; as well as Mrs Mujeedah Ishmael, a town planner, yesterday underscored the importance of noiseless environment, stating that the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that 970 million people are exposed to harmful noise yearly with €990 billion economic cost of noise-induced healthcare and lost productivity.

They stated this at the 11th Noiseless Lagos Summit organised by LASEPA with the theme, ‘Advancing sound control and technology in an emerging smart city’, in Lagos.

Ajayi stated that because “the agency understands” the economic and health implications of harmful noise, it regularly engages critical stakeholders like religious leaders and entertainers to educate them on how to comply with the state government’s policy on noise.

He added that “the agency does not just want to be enforcing without educating its stakeholders”.

He revealed that within the first four months of 2026, his agency carried out enforcement that resulted in the sealing of 500 facilities from the over 3,000 complaints it received.

In his presentation, Joseph noted that noise contributes to sleep disruption, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment and reduced productivity, noting that the definition of noise varies from community to community.

He urged religious houses and entertainment centres to install sound deadeners in their structures, including putting a noise limiter in sound systems. He implored them to self-regulate themselves as the government might be forced to regulate them, which would not be in their best interest.

“It is not until we offer noisy prayers before God answers,” he observed.

Ishmael also highlighted the dangers of noise pollution and why people should build right.

There was a playlet by secondary school pupils on the dangers of noise to the health and academic performance of school children. The best four students who participated in an earlier essay and debate competition were rewarded at the event with medals and gifts for their efforts.