Lagos State Government Set To Sanction Churches/ Mosques Over Noise Pollution

            Lagos State Government has warned that any church or mosque found disturbing public peace with noise from their loud speakers will be sanctioned. 
     The Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello, who gave the warning during Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja, yesterday disclosed that residents who live near some religious places bombarded the government with complaints over disturbing noise coming out of mosques and churches.  
     The commissioner said that in some
parts of the state there are four/five churches and mosques on one street that blare so much noise at the same time, thereby disturbing the peace of others. "It is not right for mosques and churches to disturb other people with noise from their activities, simply because they are worshipping God. Worshipping God should not come with so much discomfort to others," Mr Tunji Bello said. 
      He also noted that markets, operators of club houses and factories that produce high level of noise might be sanctioned as well. According to Mr Tunji Bello, no fewer than four churches, three hotels and one factory had been sealed by government last year for noise pollution. 
     The commissioner stated that to reduce level of such problem as open defecation, the government planned to build modern toilets across the state. He also warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains and noted that with the volume of rain expected this year, such actions could result in flooding. 
     Bello said the government had embarked on massive desilting of drains across the state and was expanding the capacities of canals to guard against flooding. 
     No fewer than five million trees had so far been planted in the state, the commissioner said, to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.