The Oyo State Government has sealed a branch of a place of worship (name withheld) situated at Golden Estate, Oluyole, Ibadan, over noise pollution.
In a statement released on Friday in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, emphasized that the government’s decision was prompted by the State Ministry of Environment’s unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues between the complainants, residents, and the church management.
“The state government was left with no other options than to seal the church premises to avert preventable escalations of brewing tensions between the residents and the church.
“Some members of the community had, before now, locked the estate gate against members of the Church and prevented services to hold.
“Officials of the Ministry on receipt of several complaints from next door residents to the Church, over the incessant noise, through official letters and phone calls, visited the area, on Nov. 9, 2023.
Read Also:
“The team recorded the sound level of the church activities at intervals, starting from praise- worship, with the average reading of 74 DB (daytime), contravening the extant environmental regulations of 2023, which states that the noise limits for residential areas at daytime must not exceed 65 DB.
“Hence, it was ascertained with sound measurements that the church constituted noise pollution” the statement read.
Mr. Oyelade elaborated on the matter, stating that the Ministry of Environment, under the guidance of Commissioner Mojeed Mogbonjubola, organized a resolution meeting with the involved parties on November 29, 2023.
According to him, the Church representatives declined to sign the undertaking letter, citing the need to seek approval from their headquarters and provide a report by December 4, 2023.
However, they failed to comply with this request. The government has issued a stern warning against the occurrence of noise pollution, emphasizing that it applies to churches, mosques, club houses, industries, companies, and marketplaces. Violators will face prosecution for their actions.
NAN
