The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday convened with leaders of religious institutions to address the issue of reducing noise pollution originating from places of worship.
This meeting, held at Alausa, followed a prior engagement with nightclub and bar owners, forming part of the agency’s efforts to tackle noise pollution across the state.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Babatunde Ajayi, emphasized the significance of this gathering as a platform for stakeholders to find common ground, ensuring a balance that respects the needs of all parties involved.
He underscored the importance of fostering worship practices among Lagosians that do not disrupt the comfort or well-being of other residents.
He said, “At LASEPA, we have the sole mandate of ensuring we manage pollution across Lagos. Pollution comes in different forms — there is air, there is land, there is water. The one that we get the most complaints about that concerns religious organisations is air, more specifically, noise pollution.
“This is what we have come here to discuss. From the data we have this year, we have over 2,500 reports from across Lagos alone; at least half of them are about religious organisations. So, we must sit down and discuss these issues, sort them out one after the other and bring different perspectives to the table so that we all understand what the law says and how we can go about peaceful coexistence.”
The religious leaders present at the meeting expressed their appreciation to LASEPA for initiating a platform to address noise pollution concerns in the state.
They committed to adhering to the agency’s regulatory guidelines on air pollution as outlined, pledging their cooperation in ensuring compliance.
