The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is
to meet with religious leaders to address the rate of noise pollution in
the state following increasing numbers of petitions against noise from
religious centres.
The
General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency
(LASEPA), Mr. Rasheed Shabi, stated this at Amuwo Odofin Local
Government over the weekend during the inauguration of the campaign
against pollution, especially noise in the state with a major focus on
the grassroots.
He lamented that noise pollution had been giving the state government serious concern, saying the agency receives between 10 and 15 petitions on noise pollution daily.
According to Mr Shabi, “Governor Fashola will in the next few weeks invite the league of Imams and church leaders to his office to address noise pollution in the state.
“We need to know how many religious houses we have in every local government. The local governments should be able to meet with these religious bodies twice in a year to stem noise pollution.”
He noted that it is not right for religious centres to be opened in residential areas, saying “You cannot open mosques and churches in residential areas and disturb others; we can’t take that. We want to work with you to curb this.”
“Excessive exposure to noise can lead to deafness and eyes defect” he added.
Buildings of religious centres in Nigeria are always characterised by loud speakers that enable them to propagate their gospel to the environs, to the chagrin of residents.
Mr Shabi enjoined the local council authority to enlighten the people about the laws of the state on noise pollution. “The Local Government should call all these people together and use the language they understand to pass the message across to them. You have the responsibility to mobilise your people and tell them what the government wants” he stated.
Industrial pollution and e-waste
The Environmental Protection Agency boss further explained that LASEPA was using the campaign to strengthen its collaboration with 57 councils in the state to combat industrial and noise pollution.
The LASEPA boss told Amuwo Odofin council officials led by the Secretary to the local government, Shade Ajao, and the Manager, Segun Ajao, that Fashola had directed the agency to partner with councils in the state to curb industrial and noise pollution.
“Pollution has been a problem to the state. Close to 60 per cent of pollution comes from the over 3, 000 industries we have in the state” he said.
“In Amuwo-Odofin, we have close to 300 industries. Also, there are about 33 water receiving points in the state and all are highly polluted. We need to give out a cleaner environment to the next generation.”
Shabi urged the councils to sensitise the people on the danger of indiscriminate dumping of e-waste.
“The way you dispose solid waste is different from the way you dispose e-waste. A television set contains lots of chemicals that are dangerous to health.
“E-waste is killing lots of people gradually. Meet with people selling generators, television sets and other electronic gadgets and sensitise them on the danger of e-waste,” he said.
The
General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency
(LASEPA), Mr. Rasheed Shabi, stated this at Amuwo Odofin Local
Government over the weekend during the inauguration of the campaign
against pollution, especially noise in the state with a major focus on
the grassroots.He lamented that noise pollution had been giving the state government serious concern, saying the agency receives between 10 and 15 petitions on noise pollution daily.
According to Mr Shabi, “Governor Fashola will in the next few weeks invite the league of Imams and church leaders to his office to address noise pollution in the state.
“We need to know how many religious houses we have in every local government. The local governments should be able to meet with these religious bodies twice in a year to stem noise pollution.”
He noted that it is not right for religious centres to be opened in residential areas, saying “You cannot open mosques and churches in residential areas and disturb others; we can’t take that. We want to work with you to curb this.”
“Excessive exposure to noise can lead to deafness and eyes defect” he added.
Buildings of religious centres in Nigeria are always characterised by loud speakers that enable them to propagate their gospel to the environs, to the chagrin of residents.
Mr Shabi enjoined the local council authority to enlighten the people about the laws of the state on noise pollution. “The Local Government should call all these people together and use the language they understand to pass the message across to them. You have the responsibility to mobilise your people and tell them what the government wants” he stated.
Industrial pollution and e-waste
The Environmental Protection Agency boss further explained that LASEPA was using the campaign to strengthen its collaboration with 57 councils in the state to combat industrial and noise pollution.
The LASEPA boss told Amuwo Odofin council officials led by the Secretary to the local government, Shade Ajao, and the Manager, Segun Ajao, that Fashola had directed the agency to partner with councils in the state to curb industrial and noise pollution.
“Pollution has been a problem to the state. Close to 60 per cent of pollution comes from the over 3, 000 industries we have in the state” he said.
“In Amuwo-Odofin, we have close to 300 industries. Also, there are about 33 water receiving points in the state and all are highly polluted. We need to give out a cleaner environment to the next generation.”
Shabi urged the councils to sensitise the people on the danger of indiscriminate dumping of e-waste.
“The way you dispose solid waste is different from the way you dispose e-waste. A television set contains lots of chemicals that are dangerous to health.
“E-waste is killing lots of people gradually. Meet with people selling generators, television sets and other electronic gadgets and sensitise them on the danger of e-waste,” he said.
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