The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti has identified noise pollution as one of the major threats affecting human lives.
He said Lagos State Government would not relent in its effort to mitigate noise pollution.
The commissioner spoke at the 4th Annual Interactive Session on Noise Pollution Control organised by Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in Alausa, penultimate weekend.
The yearly event is organised by the agency in conjunction with Lagos State Ministry of Environment to educate Lagosians on the importance of co-operation with the government to eradicate noise and environmental pollution.
This year’s theme was “Noise Mapping and New Urban Development Plan -the Lagos Experience”.
The event was well attended by management of all corporate organisations, hoteliers, traders, school directors and entertainers, among others.
Dignitaries who attended the event included former Supper Eagle’s Captain Austin Jayjay Okocha; Bonsue Music legend, Adewale Ayuba; a seasoned journalist, Victor Oteri; General Overseer, Temple Rebuilders Ministry, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi; Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, among others.
Durosinmi-Etti, praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for signing the environmental management law on March 1, 2017, to bring together all existing laws to achieve a smart and clean environment.
He said the Ministry of Environment in conjunction with LASEPA would continue to implement, enforce and sustain development policies designed to improve the quality of life of the people until the state becomes noiseless and free from environmental pollution.
He appealed to corporate organisations, business owners and all Lagosians to partner with the state government in finding lasting solutions to issues of noise pollution as well as extend the advocacy for a “Noiseless Lagos” at the grassroots level.
The LASEPA General Manager, Antonio Ayodele, said the annual programme on “noiseless Lagos” was aimed at sensitising and creating awareness on emerging issues, impacts of noise pollution and proven last solutions to the ugly trend.
He said: “The ability to measure ambient noise levels and appropriate representation on the map of Lagos would provide powerful tool for spatial identification of noise sources, its spread and impact.
“The first step to decrease noise pollution is the preparation of noise maps to enable comparison between noise levels relative to noise locations on the maps.
“The necessity of the map is to also determine exposure level of residents, while an ideal noise maps can give basic information about city traffic plan, its development, research and impacted areas for urgent attention.
“The need for positive attitudinal change by all is the way to good governance. The state government will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to improve the standard of living of Lagosians by advocating self–compliance in all facets of the environment”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor Lagos State University (LASU), Mr. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said it was possible to achieve a noiseless Lagos, following a strategic long–term commitment from all stakeholders.
In his lecture, Fagbohun, a Professor of Environmental Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said: “A noiseless Lagos is not something that is not achievable; it is, if we are all committed.
“The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) communiqué of 2016, which projected that by 2020, Lagos State will be a noiseless city through the reduction of noise pollution to the nearest minimum, is unrealisable as 2020 is close.
“This law must be reviewed and this time, it must be all inclusive.”
According to the don, all hands must be on deck to eradicate or reduce noise to the barest minimum in our society as noise is hazardous, poses threat to well-being of humankind and kills gradually.
Fagbohun said in addressing the issue of noise pollution towards achieving the desired Lagos as a smart city, noise mapping, efficient for strategic management of environmental noise and a product of assimilating collection of digital database, should be adopted.
He listed the physical and psychological effects of noise to include hearing defects, cognitive impairment in children, increased blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, ulcer, headache, depression, sleep disorder and irritability.
“Other effects of noise on human health are emotional disturbance, low productivity at work, decrease in quality of life and life expectancy, while animals, vegetation and property are also not spared,” he said.
He noted that while noise was invisible and highly intermittent, thus making infraction difficult to prove, measurement must be taken at the right places and times in order to document a noise violation.
The Vice-Chancellor further explained that the Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, Section 177 that empowered LASEPA, focused on offenses created by musical record and equipment.
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