Christmas: Lagos Govt Agencies Task Residents On Responsible Celebration, Warn Against Pollution

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI, both agencies of the state government, have tasked residents of the state to celebrate Christmas responsibly.

The agencies, in separate Christmas messages on Sunday, warned Lagosians against all forms of noise and environmental pollution.

The LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, called on residents to always remember that the State Environmental Laws prohibiting pollution, loud music and noises from worship centres, clubhouses as well as other environmental infractions that can negatively impact human health are still in force.

Specifically, Ajayi called on leadership and members of various religious organisations, club owners, industries and other interest groups operating in the state to recall various stakeholders’ engagement held by the State government and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) jointly agreed on that the yuletide should be moderately celebrated with less noise, no pollution and strict adherence to the State Environmental laws in the best interest of the public health.

He warned that his enforcement team would be on patrol 24/7 to ensure compliance with the State regulations on noise and general environmental pollution throughout the festive period.

LASEPA General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi

According to him, all religious houses, clubhouses and other entertainment outlets are to operate within enclosed and soundproofed environments with regulated use of speakers, giving due consideration to neighbouring residents during and after the celebration

The LASEPA boss reminded that the standard approved noise level in residential areas shall not exceed 55 DECIBELS during the day and 45 DECIBELS at night while that of industrial and commercial areas in the State shall not exceed 90 and 70 DECIBELs respectively during the day.

Ajayi added that worship centres must equally reduce the number of internally placed speakers to the barest minimum, such that those speakers would address only the congregation/members of that centre and not the neighbourhood.

On her part, LAGESC Corps Marshal,, Bolade-Oshodi, laid emphasis on “environmental cleanliness and the essential role of Lagos residents as we strive for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos even as we celebrate Christmas.”

Akinpelu also thanked stakeholders in the environmental sector for the success of the Lagos Senatorial Districts stakeholders’ meetings organised by the Agency recently to seek for voluntary compliance on environmental laws through grassroot community engagement on best environmental practices for market men and women in the state.

LAGESC Corps Marshal, Bolade-Oshodi

The retired Commissioner of Police also admonished residents of private and public buildings in the State to be in possession of valid waste collection contracts, patronise approved PSP operators by paying their waste bills timely as defaulters risk arrest and subsequent prosecution by the courts.

In her final remarks, the Corps Marshal cautioned Lagos traders to desist from displaying their wares for sale on walkways, lay-bys, setbacks, road medians, verges, kerbs because street trading and hawking remains banned in Lagos State.

She also sued for the increased and appropriate usage of pedestrian bridges on major highways in the State by transiting residents to reduce the spate of ‘hit and run” cases by speeding motorists.

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