Lagost State Government Shuts Down 7 Churches for Noise Pollution

The Lagos State Government has shut down the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministry and six other churches in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria over noise pollution. Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA stormed a branch of the Lord’s Chosen Church at 25

Omobola Street, Lawanson, Surulere area at the weekend and shut it down.
Other affected churches are Bible Church, FESTAC; The Chapter of Christ Church, Oregun, Ikeja; Assemblies of God Church, Ikeja; The Golden Gate Church, Ifako-Ijaiye and Seek and Save Ministry, Abule Egba.

The closure of the churches is coming after pre-sanction notices were given to the churches to abate the noise pollution emanating from their worship centres.  General Manager, LASEPA, Engr. Rasheed Shabi said the closure of the churches became imperative after several abatement notices issued to them were disregarded.

According to him, some of the churches even rebuffed meetings called by the agency on how to resolve the issue. “The agency’s stance is clear on issue of noise pollution level permitted. This has been communicated to all worship centres in the state.

 “The level of noise pollution allowed in the state is between 55 decibel during the day and 42 to 45 decibel at night,” he said. Shabi said the state government was determined to reduce noise pollution in the state because of the anomalies and diseases related to it.

 He enjoined worship centres in the state to comply with the state’s standard on noise, while suggesting the use of sound proof equipment by churches to reduce noise during their worship services.

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