RECAP: INTERNATIONAL NOISE AWARENESS DAY 2021
This year’s International Noise Awareness Day took place on the 28th of April 2021 and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency. LASEPA commemorated the day with a virtual webinar session to engage relevant stakeholders to create awareness of dangers inherent in constant exposure to noise pollutions. The event, which had over 600 participants from various relevant sectors, was themed “PROTECT YOUR HEARING, PROTECT YOUR HEALTH.”
EXCERPTS FROM THE WEBINAR SESSION
Belinda Aderonke Odeneye,
The Permanent Secretary,
Office of the Environmental Services,
“NOISELESS LAGOS IS ACHIEVABLE… Off the mic! to promote good health, quality of life and a peaceful environment.
Dr Dolapo Fasawe.
The General Manager, LASEPA,
“THE LAW IS NOT IN FAVOR OF ANYONE, BUT TO PROTECTS ALL… Noise pollution causes discomfort, hearing loss, loss of pregnancy, hypertension, and death from shock. We follow due process and guided by the extant law of the State, we also engage both the complainer and responder to promote unity, harmony, and peaceful co-existence. The Agency advocates for self-regulatory rather than enforcement.
The process:
Serving abatement notice,
Pre-sanction notice,
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Meeting of all parties,
Enforcement – MOU/Fine/sanction/ seal off or relocation.
Below are the acceptable noise levels:
- The standard approved noise level in residential areas shall not exceed 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
- The standard approved noise level in industrial areas shall not exceed 90 decibels during the day.
- The standard approved noise level for commercial areas shall not exceed 70 decibels during the day.
Mr Terfa Tilley Gyado, (Moderator),
the Director of Communications,
Temple Management Company
“IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL WHEN IT COMES TO NOISE POLLUTION IN LAGOS STATE…
A couple of years ago, my organization, Temple entertainment had an event that was reported by a neighbour for noise pollution and violation of their rights to a peaceful environment. Before this period, our organization had a long-standing mutual relationship with the GM, therefore, we thought the law could be bent for our sake, unfortunately, all entries failed and the big stick was welded on us to serve as a deterrent to others.
LASEPA was assertive in its duty as the regulatory body, so we got sanctioned, signed an undertaking and complied with all directives prescribed by the authority. The happy ending is that today, we are partners and Noiseless Lagos Ambassadors working towards the noiseless dream of Lagos.
Mr Hussain Bin Hyacinth,
the Acting Chief Imam, Nuru-Islam Central, Ikoyi.
“SCREAMING AND SHOUTING SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL TIMES…Quran Chapter 7 vs 55 said, call upon your lord in privacy and humility, as God does not like transgressors, therefore our emanating noise should be bearable to our target that the aim of the message may not be lost or distorted. Call to prayers should be moderate with consideration to the residents and host community”
Adewale Ogungbe,
Managing Director, Drywall System,
“WE STOPPED NIGHT VIGILS, TO OBEY LASEPA LAW… In line with the directives of the agency, we reduced our time of services and at peace with our host community. Godliness should be supported with good neighbourliness. We now have a clean record.
In our business line, we use technology ( acoustic installation) to profer solutions to noise pollutions, emanating from churches, mosques, cinemas, and other facilities.
PASTOR BOLAJI IDOWU,
Harvesters International Christian Center
“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF… What is expected of us as churches is to build and unite the community, but how do we achieve this. When our actions and activities are contrary to our preachings. you cannot love your neighbour when you are constantly polluting society and causing disharmony in the neighbourhood. We should be at peace and not in conflict with the community and people at large.
SAEED SALMON,
Deputy Chief Imam, Yaba College of Technology
“YOU’RE NOT CALLING A DEAF OR DEAD GOD, LOWER YOUR VOICE, SO YOU CAN BE HEARD…Let us be responsible when worshipping or holding services. Quran 7 vs 56 said; Do not perpetrate evil on the earth surface after it has been put for habitation, wherever and whenever you’re polluting the environment, you are perpetrating evil and not appreciating the favour and gift of Allah
KHADIJAT OKUNNU-LAMID,
CEO, SLICE MEDIA
MARKETING STRATEGIES DEVOID OF NOISE…The dynamism and multi-channel system of communication make noise easier to control and curb. Noise is an integral part of marketing/ communication strategy but can be avoided for effective output/result.
KEMI REMI-DAIRO
Event Manager
“GOOD HEARING AID IS SCARCE AND EXPENSIVE! THEREFORE PROTECT YOUR EARDRUMS…I was a victim of noise pollution, I lost my ear at an event where I organized as an event planner. The dilemma was better imagined than experienced. Am appealing to you all to protect your ears and prevent the risk of losing your eardrums to avoidable noise. Walk away from activities and actions that tend to promote incessant noise making.”
Prince Jide Kosoko,
Actor, Film Producer/Director
“NOISE IS CREATING MORE HAVOC, THAN GOOD AND A MAJOR CAUSE OF DISTRACTION AND IRRITATION, …Noise emanating from religious facilities is less than 50%, compared to the Influx of people into the state, with little or no knowledge of existing policy on noise pollution, therefore indirectly constituting environmental nuisances by their actions and activities. The negative impact of noise is also felt even in the entertainment and film industry.
Mr BUKOLA ADELEKE,
The Special Adviser to Governor on Christian Religious matters
“SAY NO TO NOISY VIGILS, REVIVALS, AND CRUSADES, ……prayers should be a personal relationship between you and God. Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the closet and secret places. As Christians, we should take a cue from this and do away with hypocritical practices that promote disharmony, disturbances, and chaos.
Hon. Jebe Abdullahi,
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic matters
“CALL TO PRAYER SHOULD BE MINIMAL …while the prayer (solat) should be without the use of microphones. Noise Disturbances has been in the circle of religious institutions for a long, contrary to the preaching on the holy books. Islam preaches peace which must be extended to all other relevant sectors and neighbourhood.”
A 60 seconds silence was observed in honour of the International Noise Awareness Day of 2021 and to also appreciate the uniqueness of quietness.
Captain Hussein Houssam
LESS IS MORE…Louder is not better, it distorts the sound and becomes irritating
Bisi Shonibare,
HEAD, NOISE & EMISSIONS CONTROL DEPARTMENT
NOISELESS LAGOS, YES! – A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY…We could change the narrative by taking responsibility for our individual actions against noise pollution to ensure a habitable, peaceful, and noiseless Lagos, the Centre of Excellence.
It is noteworthy to inform participants that the Centre for Hearing and Communication (CHC), USA, recently identified and recognized the laudable efforts of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency as a global partner in the fight against noise pollution, courtesy of the good people of Lagos whose support for government programs and activities on Noiseless Lagos could not be overemphasized.
We also showcased effective service delivery of the Agency through Testimonial messages received from victims and defaulters, and the happy ending stories that followed our intervention. Recognition Awards were equally awarded to facilities that complied with LASEPA’s compliance directives on noise regulations as stipulated in the Harmonized Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, Part VI.
The full replay of the webinar can be captured in the video below: