Lagos shuts religious houses, hotels over noise pollution

Lagos State government yesterday shut 29 churches and six mosques across the state over noise pollution and other environmental offenses. The clampdown, carried out by men of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), also closed about six hotels and nightclubs, three factories, four companies and a few residential apartments.

Managing Director of LASEPA, Adebola Shabi, said the exercise was to enforce state environmental laws that prohibit air and noise pollution on account of religious activities, use of public addressing system, and activities of power generating sets in residential and industrial areas.

Shabi said prior to the forced closure, affected churches, mosques, companies among others had been invited for sensitisation to make them know standards in the state and given directives to comply. But most of the public complaints kept coming back as if the agency and government were not responsive, so “we have to act and enforce the law.”

Among the churches shuts for noise pollution were Christ Apostolic Church, Ireti Ayo, Idimu; Cornerstone Youth Church, Surulere; Anglican Church of Nativity, Okota; Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Jakande Estate, Lekki Expressway; Redeemed Christian Church of God, Kayode Street, Onipanu (for noise pollution and refusal to honour invitation).

The list also included Prophetic Intervention Ministry, Ogba; Land of Oil Prophetic Ministry, Ifako-Ijaye; The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministry, Ojokoro, Lagos; Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Adekunle, Yaba; Life line Assembly Church, Okota, Isolo; Jesus the Burden Bearer, Okota, Isolo and Believers’ Inn International Church, Ifako-Ijaye among others.

The religious centres, depending on size, are liable to a fine of N50,000 to N100,000. About 100 out of the 6000 religious house in the state have been shut in the last couple of months.

The General Manager added that Lagos has its laws and standards on environmental issues, which include acceptable standards noise levels. During the day, approved standard is 55 decibel for residential areas and 45 at night. The standard is 90 decibel in industrial areas during the day, and 80 at night. In mixed residents where there are both residential and commercial set ups, it is 65 during the day and 55 decibel at night.