Noise pollution according to Wikipedia is the disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life. The laxity in the implementation of environmental laws by various State Governments has created a society that is characterized by self-convenience rather than the general societal interest where personal actions or activities should not encroach on individual’s freedom and right. With a population of over 20million, Lagos State is facing a massive noise pollution that is threatening the lives of its residents.
The level of intolerable noise pollution in Lagos calls for urgent Government intervention. It is particularly worrisome that despite the express mandate given to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to tackle this problem head-on, the noise is being amplified despite the erroneous believe of the State Government and LASEPA that the battle is being won.
My submission is premised on “the discuss” program of the 20th September 2015 with JimyDisu on classic radio 97.3 fm, where the General Manager of LASEPA in the person of EngrAdebolaShabi created an illusion that the organization is winning the war against noise pollution. From the statistics he reeled out, it is obvious that the body is yet to appreciate the enormous challenges ahead. I was particularly agitated when a lady called in and bitterly complained about the persistent rise in her blood pressure whenever religious services are being conducted by churches within are vicinity. According to her, the intensity of the noise denies her the much needed sleep and rest resulting to adverse medical implications. I could practically feel her pains and worries. Millions of Lagosians and Nigerians are being subjected to similar medical risk from noise pollution emanating from religious institutions, preachers using public address system, shops blaring music from speakers, clubs and other entities contributing to noise pollution.
With over 6000 religious facilities, institutions and places of worship within the state, the closure of only 65 facilities representing 1.08% closure rate for noncompliance within the last 2 months is grossly insignificant and a clear misrepresentation of the definition of success by the General Manager. It is obvious that the implementation and enforcement drive are far below expectation given the fact that virtually all the religious facilities in one way or the other are guilty of creating noise above the permitted decibel levelby the State Government.The three (3) minutes window of opportunity for these facilities to blare their loud speakers as presented by the General Manager is incomprehensible and absolutely against any existing environmental law in the State.
Apparently, the political will necessary to sustain this drive is waningvery fast and the health hazards are unquantifiable, affecting productivity and economic growth of the State from the perspective of rest and sleep denial for the teeming population, the two conditions that are necessary for healthy living. This policy needs to be vigorously pursued from the point of enlightenment, enforcement and punishment.
ENLIGHTENEMENT
Any successful Government policy must recognize the unique role human elements play in policy implementation. This impact could be felt through sustained enlightenment programs using the print and electronic media. On the noise pollution campaign, i am yet to see the necessary mass mobilization on the scale that will necessitate mass participation. The television stations, newspapers and the internet platforms are currently not being effectively utilized by the State Government in drumming up support for the policy. There is no gainsaying the fact that noise pollution is a major problem that everybody must confront particularly against the backdrop of the religion injunction admonishing us to “love thyneighour as yourself”. It follows therefore that you do not deny your neighbor of the much needed rest and sleep.
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
Any policy or law that is not enforceable is a virtual law resulting to energy dissipation and money wasting. Most often, structural deficiencies and lack of appropriate planning lead to deviations from set goals and objectives. To prosecute this campaign, it is necessary to fully deploy needed man power while operating a time table that will be able to assist in identifying culprits at the point of committing such offence (s). It will therefore be extremely important for LASEPA to operate a 24 hour shift with functional hotlines, where complaints channels will be effectively utilized with recourse to physical and on the spot visitation as the case may be because when caught in the act, there are little or no excuses for the law not to take its full course on offenders.
PUNISHMENT
The only deterrent to non-compliance is adequate and commensurate punitive actions. Fines should be imposed to give teeth to the law and serve asnecessary checks and controls. LASEPA should be considered as a revenue generating body for the State Government given the rate of default. Fines imposed on offenders should constitute a huge revenue base for the State Government. A full scale offensive need to be launched to drive home a point that laws are meant to be obeyed and organizations be it religion institutions must operate within the ambit of the law.
ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR
Noise pollution is a problem that should be confronted with all the might of the State given the institutional dimension to the problem has taken. Majority of religion facilities or worship places are culprit and will be ready to frustrate the workability of this law. This is perhaps worrisome given the commercialization of religion and wanton disregard to the rule of law. The State Government should be
rest assured of the support of the majority of Lagosians in this environmental sanitization drive.
A visit to the hospital will clearly reveal the untold hardship the citizenry are facing as a result of noise pollution which often leads to loss of hearing, hypertension and other adverse medical conditions.
Performance management in the modern economy can be enhanced and measured by set target. LASEPA going by its mandate should be a cash cow for the State Government, in addition to being self-sustaining. With over 6000 religious facilities and a fine of N50,000 and N100,000, considering the high default rate, one can then imagine the humungous funds the State Government can generate if this policy is religiously implemented. However, second or third offenders should be heavily fined and a closure period effectively emplaced on the facility, with recommended period of 60days and above. LASEPA should equally be placed on a quarterly target of N200,000,000 (Two hundred million naira) and above which is obviously realistic and achievable.
Lastly, the General Manager of LASEPA should note that this is a job that must be accomplished, and action speaks louder than words. This menace can be defeated collectively and together we can create a sane environment where human privacy, dignity and freedom are respected.
I hereby replicate the LASEPA’s phone numbers as provided on the program-08050458638-9, 07046351295, 08036667049.
Kindly call the numbers when necessary so that we can jointly hold LASEPA and Lagos State Government accountable. Enough of the noise!!
END
We have a church denomination that takes it upon itself to do their morning cry daily right in front of my building, have grumbled fought but it had only persisted. This agency hasn’t been of any use either, called written but nothing has been done close to 2years of raising it.
Let this agency be scrapped or its leadership be changed. Aguda surulere is where I’m complaining about
A particular night club and brothel on ( Lipstick Night club) number 19 Omo Oba Olukolu street off baale street, Igbo efon, lekki . This place crawls with hoodlums, marijuana smokers and unscrupulous men looking like criminals. Prostututes live there. The noise at night is unbearable. I have also reported this severally to Lasepa with no hope. Complaints have been lodged to t police yet they get tips and the place still runs. Pls help our families, children, wives and husbands. Pls save us
A particular hotel on agbalaya street Oshodi has been disturbing the community with so much noise from 7pm to 4am everyday. We have reported this on lasepa website several times and called their numbers severally but still no solution. Is lasepa working at all? I don’t think so.
Good write up. But i am of the issue of LASEPA being a cash cow. If they are given this mandate it will be subject to abuse.
Thank you so much for this writeup. I also listened with rapt attention to The Discourse with Jimi Disu on the day he briught in the General Manager of LASEPA. Unfortunately, the man is a politician and came on the program to do what politicians do – window dressing. With the current noise level in Lagos, how does he assess the efficiency of his agency? I’ll like to suggest that Gov. Ambode should save task payers money ny scrapping this agency which lack the willpower to perform. Uncle JD told this GM that they that the 3 minutes window period grated these religious houses in the money is a recipe for trouble, but the man does not have listening skills. Nigeria is the only country where such primitive experience occur. You travel out and in your subconscious, you are waiting for a blast of noise in the morning to know that the day has broken. I have sent messages severally to the phone nos advertised to no effect. This is 2015 and we are in the era of change. Public officers who are not ready to deliver should go! LASEPA should be scrapped or someone more visionary should be brought in to head the agency. Countless Lagosians are dying from noise induced hypertension.