Oyo Government laudable move to curb noise pollution

The recent move by the Oyo State government to enforce the law banning noise pollution in the state is a commendable one.  Indeed, it’s long overdue. It will be recalled that in March this year the State House of Assembly had invited the Commissioner  for Environment and Water Resources,  Isaac Ishola and his counterpart from the  Information, Culture and Tourism Ministry  Toye Arulogun to explain why the law banning noise pollution is still being observed in breach. The duo explained their efforts and challenges and were informed by Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo to use the force of law to make defaulters to comply if dialogue is not yielding positive results. Section 58 of the Oyo State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Control Regulation (No. 6, Vol. 38 of 2013) is targeted at curbing noise pollution of religious houses and entertainment outfits.

On August 15 this year, the two commissioners addressed the press to update the public on how they are faring with the enforcement order. At the inter-ministerial press briefing in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Environment gave a two-week ultimatum to churches, mosques, as well as clubs and restaurants to remove their outdoor speakers or face prosecution. The Commissioner further explained that the state government was committed to reducing the noise level in residential areas to 45 decibel at night and 60 decibel in the afternoon within five meters radius. He also disclosed that some places of worship had been sealed up for noise pollution, while no fewer than 372 environmental offenders have been prosecuted in the last one year.

Commissioner Ishola was quoted as saying “We are giving churches and mosques with external speakers two weeks to remove them. You don’t use religion to disturb others. I am a Christian and I have supervised the locking up of three churches for disturbing their neighbours with noise. If I can do that against churches I will do it against mosques and other places.” The commissioner equally enjoined all owners of vehicles and motorcycles to take them for emission test at the offices of three consultants approved for the exercise. He said: “If you own a vehicle, motorcycle or generator, it must be subjected to gaseous emission test. The essence is not to make money for government, but to control gaseous emission believed to be one of the major causes of cancer and other ailments. The ministry has two mobile courts that would sit during the day and we have arranged that magistrates’ courts should also try environmental offenders.”

I wonder why it took the intervention of the State House of Assembly to ginger the Commissioner for Environment in the Pacesetter State to wake up to his duty. The law had been there since 2013 but was not enforced. I am a resident of Ibadan and know the inconvenience I and my family have had to endure from the religious houses that envelope us during their diurnal and nocturnal services. Anytime churches around my house have vigil, I know for certain that there will be no sleep for me that night. This is because of their loudspeakers which are usually tuned to the highest decibel for maximum reach. What these perpetrators does not know or chose to ignore is that they are constituting environmental nuisance and it shows that they do not love their neighbours.

Am very glad to learn of the latest enforcement action by Oyo State Ministry of Environment.   It would be recalled that Lagos State government set the pace in Nigeria in 2010 by banning religious houses from mounting outside speakers. The level of noise pollution allowed in the state is between 55 decibel during the day and 42 to 45 decibel at night. Noise pollution refers to undesirable levels of noises caused by human activity that disrupt the standard of living in the affected area. Researchers said indoor and outdoor noise pollution sources include car alarms, emergency service siren, mechanical equipment, fireworks, compressed air horns, barking dogs, audio entertainment systems, electric megaphones, and loud people.

In case you do not know, noise pollution impact negatively on human health. Experts warned that it can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, hearing loss, sleep disturbances and loss of concentration. Others are tinnitus which can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks. In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey detection and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation, and contribute to permanent hearing loss. Sociologically speaking, high noise pollution can aid security breaches. Criminals such as armed robbers, kidnappers and rapists can perpetrate their heinous and fiendish acts with impunity under the cover of noise which will make it impossible for victims to get help as their shout will be drowned by the din around them. Thus, noise pollution does more harm than good. In fact, I see no good in it. Why must we disturb the peace of our neighbours and our environment in the name of practicing religion, marketing or enjoying ourselves?

It is imperative for all and sundry to support Oyo State government and indeed all governments that have passed legislations against noise pollution to ensure compliance with the law. It behooves the Oyo State government to adequately sensitize the citizenry on the dangers of pollution.  In sane societies, religious houses and entertainment centres are encouraged to acquire acoustic furniture, internal speakers and erect padded walls to minimise noise. The government also needs to publish where infractions against the laws can be reported including their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. In addition it should set up monitoring team to enforce compliance.

 National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency as well as State and Local Government Environmental Protection Agencies need to belt up and partner with National Orientation Agency and Nigerian print and electronic media to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers of environmental pollution in general and noise pollution in particular. Beyond the use of traditional mass media, as individuals, we can use the social media (Twitter, Facebook, SMS, WhatsApp, Blogs) to educate other people who may be unaware of the hazards of noise pollution.  Protecting our environment against pollution is our collective responsibility. We must endeavor not to be part of the problem but must do everything to be part of the solution; the change vanguard.