Lagos Life And Noise Pollution Menace

DECADES before the Lagos State government announced recently that it is set to move against noise pollution, the menace had been part and parcel of Lagos life, nay most Nigerian cities.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) noise is “…unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities.” When it persists, it damages the ear and triggers other health hazards. Exposure to noise at 150 decibels for six hours can lead to deafness. WHO puts the tolerable level of noise at 40 decibels at night.

One can therefore understand the pain of Mr Jide Aina and other residents of Omowunmi Street by Alafia Bus Stop, Isolo Road, Mushin over the noise pollution they are facing in the area. Aina, a landlord at Akintunde Close regretted that the noise from a nearby church usually starts from 6am every day, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays intolerable.

“I think they have special programme on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every last Friday, they have a vigil. And each time we cannot sleep,” he disclosed, urging the church authorities to change the timing of their programme because 6am is too early. “People are still sleeping at that time.”

He blamed the state of the economy for the situation saying: “Had it been that most of them are working, they will not have the time to be holding special programme so early in the morning. It has affected my health. I can’t sleep. It is a problem.”

Aina regretted that they are surrounded by noisy activities as there is a club house close to his house that people throng from 6pm to 11pm every day. “Their noise is another problem. People who sold the land to them don’t find out what they are going to use the place for. When we wanted to buy a plot of land at Ikoyi for a mall, Shell did not sell the land to us because they said that the place is not suitable for a mall. But most of the people selling land are illiterates. They don’t really care about the consequences of their actions.”