The Lagos State Government has ordered all churches in Lagos, Nigeria, to immediately remove all external speakers from their churches as they constitute noise pollution to the society.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos State governor.

The order is sequel to a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, signed by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State Branch and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA.

The state government viewed continued disobedience by churches to remove their external loud speakers as uncalled for and therefore wants them to comply urgently before stricter measures would be adopted to abate the nuisance.

At the MOU between LASEPA and CAN, the government also wanted all churches to completely be enclosed to further curtail the noise during service in order not to disturb public peace and order.

The MOU was signed by LASEPA General Manager, Mr. Rasheed Shabi and the Director, Pollution Control Department, Mr. K.A. Fadairo for the state government and Pastor J.A. Fatokun, Pastor Olawoyin Lawrence and Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi for Lagos State CAN.

According to the agreement with government, CAN agreed that churches under its umbrella should remove external loud speakers from their places of worship in order not to disturb public peace.

The agency observed that many churches in the Lagos metropolis use residential plots, uncompleted buildings, makeshift shanties, shops/garages, flats and corridors and passages within tenements as worship centres, which clearly violate the town planning laws.

LASEPA warned churches that henceforth, vigils were to be held with all necessary abatement measures in place without disturbing the neighbourhood and that week day early morning and evening services must be held without disturbing the peace of others.

“In all these cases, amplifier, keyboard and other musical instruments are used both day and night to conduct vigils which exacerbate noise pollution within the state. It is noteworthy that religious noise comes with associated vibration from church activities,” the agency observed.

With the agreement reached, LASEPA had removed the regulation of time, period, frequency of worship services and restriction of use of musical instruments from noise pollution control policy if the abatement measures were put in place by the churches to prevent noise pollution.

In the MOU, CAN is expected to persuade its members to control the noise emanating from their worship centres to nationally acceptable limit of 55db during the day and 45db at night and that churches should be good examples of the golden rule in the Bible which reads “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”

The state government also said that while it would not ban churches from holding open-air crusades and preaching, churches willing to have open-air crusade must obtain permit from the police and LASEPA before doing so.

Both parties further agreed to accept liability for breach of any of the conditions and punishment in accordance with the provisions of LASEPA Edict as deemed necessary to serve as sufficient deterrent to prevent any further occurrence.



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/07/28/lagos-orders-churches-to-remove-loud-speakers/

Amen to that.

I heard in the news bith churches and mosques, but not church alone.

This is a very good news. Noise nuisance are now restricted by laws enforced by The Lagos State Government , but an individual may also prosecute a churche. Loud speakers is a source of irritation and stress for many people and can even damage our hearing if it is loud enough.

Hope they'll also do something about those market people with loudspeakers outside their shops and their loud music? Is not only in the worship centres that noise is made. Those people that sell films and put all sort of stuff outside should also be taken care of.

This should have gone along way with streets blockers in the name party (Owanbe). All these constitude nuisance to the public.

Shouldnt we start with those who block streets with loud speakers blasting vulgar music over the weekends?

kufreabasi:

This should have gone along way with streets blockers in the name party (uwanbe). All these constitude nuisance to the public.

Owanbe not Uwanbe

Good news!!!

I remember at my early teens (or just before my pre-teens) there were some retards that opened a church in an uncompleted building opposite our residence.

They then installed the loudest loudspeakers to broadcast anytime the were worshipping, COMPLETELY disrupting any attempt to watch TV (Super Ted for that matter).

I used to be so pissed and stand on the balcony screaming towards them to no avail as they could not hear. Some of the people walking on the street between my house and the church used to look at me when screaming like if they thought I was Damian from the Omen movies, and I would stare back hard to scare the  shyt out of them.

How I wish I live in Nigeria today and I encountered such retards again. Oh Lord, how I would love and cherish the opportunity now I am big and old enough to make my own living. I will buy the largest loudspeaker, twitchers and sub-woofers to fcking blast them this track REPEATEDLY every sunday whilst they worship.

[flash=400,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfDIakTWYeA&feature=related[/flash]



When they reach the part for calling for donations, I will play:

[flash=400,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPIZBcb6hQI&feature=related[/flash]

All my friends that know me well will tell you 158% that I am not joking when I say I will do it EVERY SUNDAY!

They will be the ones coming to beg and then turn down their music.

ThankGod,at least i wouldnt be hearing enemy die die die everynight again,wow i will sleep well well.

its a terrible experience

Only Church ?, this man wan instigate religion riots in Lagos or ,

Good Riddance, but this should include the mosques as well Mr Baba T, they all have mega-phones on top of their buildings too,

Why the emphasis on Churches? What happens to the mosques that also contribute to noise pollution?

As far as I am concerned, religious groups are yet to fully comply with this directive as I am woken up at 4.30am by a mosque in my area blaring so much noise and I imagine how people can make so much noise at that time without considering others still sleeping. Immediately,the mosque finishes, a church in the same area now starts their own service, equally with so much noise. As far as I am concerned, this is just been very inconsiderate cos you are just forced to wake up when all these noise starts.

i think the state government should introduce very stern penalties for non-complaince so that we can at least have sanity in Lagos and sleep in peace.

If this were a christian governor banning mosques from broadcasting noise,yawa for don gass.

Meanwhile,I will like to see this law in action.By the way, what penalty goes to anyone who breaks this law?

I will also suggest that all mosques should stop broadcasting the noise that they start at 5am calling fellow muslims to come and pray.Such noise was introduced about 15 centuries ago and is now absolutely unnecessary in the 21st century since each family can set alarm on their own phone or clock to wake them up. If however some people wanna claim that it's not every family that can afford an alarm clock/phone then why the ffuck should you serve a God that can not provide you with just a cheap clock/phone?

angelllla:

As far as I am concerned, religious groups are yet to fully comply with this directive as I am woken up at 4.30am by a mosque in my area blaring so much noise and I imagine how people can make so much noise at that time without considering others still sleeping. Immediately,the mosque finishes, a church in the same area now starts their own service, equally with so much noise. As far as I am concerned, this is just been very inconsiderate cos you are just forced to wake up when all these noise starts.

i think the state government should introduce very stern penalties for non-complaince so that we can at least have sanity in Lagos and sleep in peace.

I didn't even see your post before posting mine. I experience the same thing everyday too in my area.

On Tuesday evening, i left work early coz i was tired, i got home around 7pm after a terrible traffic. A church was having their normal evening service with so much noise coming from the pastor but i had hope that they will soon finish. The church finished around 9pm and i was happy, took my bath and decided to sleep. At exactly 10pm i heard a strange noise and i listened carefully, it was the mosque opposite my house, they had what i can only describe as night vigil. They finished at 2am and started the call to prayer at 4.30am and of course didnt finish that till i left for work around 6.30am, my eyes were swollen the next day, i felt terrible throughout the day at work, and was totally incoherent during my weekly meeting, it was really embarrasing. this is one of many of my experiences with churches and mosques.

Oh! forgot to tell you. there are 2 churches at the back of my house, another 2 houses away from mine and the Mosque directly opposite my house,
i really pray for this to work, they should put task force in place as well to ensure compliance and not limit this to central Lagos, it's worse at the suburbs

my question why don't I see or hear Churches or Mosques blaring loudspeakers in Bourdillon, Parkview areas of Ikoyi or GRA Ikeja?

faithin9ja:

my question why don't I see or hear Churches or Mosques blaring loudspeakers in Bourdillon, Parkview areas of Ikoyi or GRA Ikeja?

Because the people there are already in heaven and do not need to be preached to further.

To those who claim that the ban is only on churches it is not so as it involves all places of religious worship, I will like to urge those who are think it is ok to tell stories in an incomplete fashion to tell the truth not half truths.

A Lagos-based group, Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), yesterday said the plan by Lagos State Government to tax churches and mosques in the state is a step in the right direction just as it said its move to place a ban on the use of loud speakers and musical instruments during religious services is a long expected move.

MURIC, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Dr. Ishaq Akintola, and made available to Daily Trust in Lagos yesterday , said the use of public address system had been grossly abused in churches and mosques particularly in the past ten years.

According to MURIC, the introduction of noisy musical instruments into religious worship is the height of social irresponsibility as whole neighbourhoods are kept awake from dusk to dawn.

The group said the danger in the misuse of loud speakers during worshipping is violent confrontation either by adherents of other religions or by people who are disturbed by the noise.
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The MURIC statement read in part: "Lagos State Government (LASG) recently revealed plans to ban the use of loud speakers in places of worship as well as to ask churches and mosques to pay tax.

"The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) therefore supports the plan by LASG to inject sanity into Lagos State by placing a ban on the use of loud speakers and musical instruments during religious services."

Concerning the plan to tax churches and mosques, MURIC said "it supports the move as long as it is targeted at extra incomes accruing to churches and mosques through their business transactions."

We believe that religious houses who engage in business should contribute their quota to the economic development of the country. The House of God must not cheat, it said.

this is how people delude themselves about religious persecution, out of ignorance of the real news.

Which department is in Charge of prosecuting erring offenders?KAI,LASTMA,POLICE?I want to report the Mosque close to my house.The ban should be extended to Generators used by neighbors to disturb our sleep.

^yes.
this is discrimination   how about all the noise of allahiambudulahi that comes out of markets and mosques every friday, how come their own speaker can stay, leave the churches alone lagos is a cosmopolitan state, let the noise be this is not london and if its disturbing he can distribute ear plugs for all citizens

You are a frigging nutter I bet you don't live in naija, that's why you're yarning opaks for hia.

whiteroses:

^yes.
this is discrimination   how about all the noise of allahiambudulahi that comes out of markets and mosques every friday, how come their own speaker can stay, leave the churches alone lagos is a cosmopolitan state, let the noise be this is not london and if its disturbing he can distribute ear plugs for all citizens

Na woa, loss of loudspeakers will have a bad effect on business.

AFAIK a lot of the ppl INSIDE those churches actually HATE the noise too, but they are afraid to complain for fear that God will be angry with them !! The noise is just to knock the poor congregation senseless with meaningless songs and crappy sermons before taking their money , at least in many of these mushroom "CHURCHES"

felifeli:

AFAIK a lot of the ppl INSIDE those churches actually HATE the noise too, but they are afraid to complain for fear that God will be angry with them !!  The noise is just to knock the poor congregation senseless with meaningless songs and crappy sermons before taking their money ,  at least in many of these mushroom "CHURCHES"

      Totally agreed with you,   a way to comatose pple into making their own deposits.

Good move by the Lagos State Government. We only need genuine christians in the church. When a church is led by genuine pastors, people will flock there to worship. There would be no need to advertise the church by using powerful loudspeakers in order to attract worshippers. Our creator himself does not like noise. The bible also advises that God hears our prayers when we do it in the corner of our rooms. All this unnecessary noise making has to stop. If the congregation can hear what the pastor is saying, it is okay that way. The microphone should make the Pastor's voice audible enough in the church's interior. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

[b]Hmmm! Governor Fashola, a beg make I ask o o? Na only Churches this decree is talking to? Or na all religious groups in Lagos State e.g. Christians, Muslems, Hindus etc. I hope na all idey talk to o o o that way, igobi fair decree and not discriminatory, abi? Think it's time Churches and Mosques both shut down their amplifiers for good, don't you reckon?  Or is the law, tipping one side here in favour ooooooooooof-----

Because, it is said that Allah is a fair and just God - na lie?? Remember, if the decree no fair God go vex o o o and judge the person wey pass am o o.  Im reward go dey wait for heaven when im get there. So, I suggest you check dey decree again o o o and make am straight where idey rumble o o o so igo dey straight and equal o o o, before you put am on the Bill board and dey Big Book of law for we wretched folks to look  o o o  . 

Because, my take na fairness and justice for all, maka ndi uta na elu igwe, biko o o o! For Nigerians don sofa too much injustice na aka ndi nachi achi, enof na enof! [/b]

A highly welcome and positive development. Churches and Mosques are nuisance to society. Your freedom and choice to worship your God must not deny me of my right to peaceful rest nor should it rob me of the right to concentrate on my job. Bravo LASG.