LASEPA Shuts Down Over 352 Churches, Mosques, Others in Lagos

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) announced yesterday that over 352 facilities, including churches and mosques, have been shut down across various areas of the state in the past year due to noise pollution and other environmental violations.

During a press briefing in Ikeja, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, the General Manager of LASEPA, expressed concern about residents’ failure to comply with regulations. He noted that a major issue with noise pollution is that compliance tends to be temporary; soon after enforcement actions, individuals revert to their disruptive behaviors.

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In a one-year report presented by Ajayi, he stated, “After enforcement, we often see temporary compliance because they pay fines and we shut them down. However, this cycle continues. There’s no city in the world that does not impose fines and penalties for violations; there must be consequences for actions.”

He emphasized that this is not just a Nigerian issue, but a global one, as people often return to their previous bad habits.

“A primary concern is the use of microphones at bus stops and religious institutions. Even Christian worshippers use loudspeakers and microphones to preach in public. The religious sector is the largest contributor to noise pollution, largely due to the lack of control over how religious establishments are set up under current regulations.”

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Ajayi pointed out that it requires strong policy enforcement to manage this issue effectively. “In Nigeria today, some churches want to establish multiple branches on the same street. We have engaged representatives from religious institutions about the negative impacts of noise pollution and the necessity to keep sound levels below 60 decibels during services, highlighting the risks they pose to the public and themselves. We conduct these discussions regularly.”

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