Lagos State House of Assembly Tuesday at plenary called on the state Ministry of Information and Strategy to embark on public enlightenment campaign to sensitize the public on the danger that noise pollution poses to health and the need to stem its tide in the state.

The House also called on the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the General Manager of the state Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to discharge the statutory responsibility conferred on it by Section 9 (a) of the state Environmental Protection Agency Law, 1996.

Raising the motion titled “Need for Regulation of Noise Pollution in Lagos State” on the floor of the House, member representing Epe Constituency 1, Abiodun Tobun, decried the high level of noise pollution arising from the blaring of music by vendors, street party organisers and outdoor advertisers as well as indiscriminate use of horns by motorists and cyclists on major highways in the states.

Tobun also noted the high culpability of churches, mosques and other faith-based organisations in noise pollution in the state through their various programmes like vigil, mobile preaching, tafsir and periodic calls to prayers.

The lawmaker expressed concern about the high level of noise pollution which, he said has become a major source of health hazard as recently raised by the Nigeria Hearing and Speech Association (NHSA) that more Nigerians are suffering from hearing impairment as a result of noise pollution.

He expressed worry that there is no proper enforcement of Section 9 (a) of the LASEPA Law 1996, aimed at controlling noise pollution in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos with over 15 million residents.

Contributing to the motion, member representing Alimosho Constituency 1, Bisi Yusuf, explained that the best way to go about the issue, is to ensure the proper enforcement of the existing regulation.

According to Yusuf, “when some people are praying, it will seem as if God is deaf and you begin to wonder may be God won’t answer their prayers if they don’t shout. We should call on these faith-based organisations to allow God to rest; the existing regulations should be enforced.”

On his part, Gbolahan Yishawu, Eti Osa 1 noted that the motion is timely, adding that “in enforcing the regulation, we should ensure that construction companies and noise of generators should also be looked into.”

Others, who spoke on the issue, explained that the relevant and necessary agencies should be called upon to do the needful by ensuring strict compliance of the existing regulation.

They also added that motor parks should be included in the enforcement of the regulation. “Some motor parks also contribute to this issue of noise pollution and we must not overlook them in the enforcement of this regulation,” said Segun Olulade (Epe Constituency 2).

Member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2, Emeka Idimogu called for caution on the part of his colleagues in addressing the issue, noting that “we should use a persuasive approach in addressing it because we all made noise during the electioneering campaign and noise has become a part of us, we can’t change it overnight,” he said.

The House in its resolution also called on the state Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture to ensure that the use of public address systems are discouraged within the community so as not to disturb the peace and tranquility of the community.