Lagos: Churches, Mosques Shut over Noise!

Local Editor

Authorities in Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos shut down dozens of churches, mosques and hotels in a bid to cut noise pollution, officials said Thursday.

The sprawling city of some 20 million people is known for heavy traffic jams and the deafening noise of horns and loudspeakers.

"It's true that 70 churches, 20 mosques and 11 hotels have been shut down across the state," an official of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency [LASEPA] stressed.

The official further added that LASEPA boss Rasheed Adebola Shabi ordered the closure after the churches and mosques refused to comply with a government order to reduce noise pollution.

"The affected churches and mosques were directed to remove the horns and loudspeakers placed outside so as not to disturb the public with their activities but they refused," she said.

The official noted that the government was aiming at a zero-noise level in the next four years.

She added: "We want to ensure that Lagos is noise-free by the year 2020. With our status as a megacity, by year 2020 we will be free of noise".

According to her, the agency would no longer allow makeshift buildings to be used as places of worship in the state.

In parallel, the government restricted blaring of horns and sirens by motorists to reduce noise and pollution in the highly crowded city.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team