NOISELESS LAGOS CAMPAIGN: LASEPA WARNS AGAINST VEHICULAR NOISE POLLUTION
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By Farouq Oduola A.
Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Tuesday May 9, held its Annual Edition of “Noiseless Lagos Campaign” held at the Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park at Alausa, Ikeja.
The 8th edition program themed Vehicular Noise Pollution and Hearing Deficits was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Transportation to sensitize the public on the noise pollution created by vehicles and the threat it presents to hearing.
According to Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, General Manager of LASEPA, “noise causes your body to release stress hormones which gives you adrenaline and makes you aggressive.”
According to her, collaborating with other sectors such as the ministries of health and transportation, was a no-brainer since studies have shown that vehicular traffic noise is one of the highest causes of air pollution in terms of noise.
“That is why the multi sectorial collaboration is crucial in order to achieve results.”
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Parking Agency (LASPA), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were among the state’s concerned authorities represented at the event.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, expressed his gratitude for all efforts made to lessen the effects of noise pollution because it is a frequent problem for the ministry of health.
He claims that excessive usage of car horns is a key contributing element to noise pollution, which is both an environmental and a public health issue.
He said, “I would love to see a world without horns that will be used only when necessary.”
“Many people have already lost or have had their hearing in one ear reduced without realising it,” he continued, adding that noise pollution has a severely debilitating effect on people. “They only realise it when the other ear is affected.”
Adewale Ogungbe, the CEO of Dry Walls Systems Limited, praised LASEPA for taking on such a challenging task.
“I must admit that it is not an easy task to ensure and guarantee noise pollution management, because how do you begin to control noise in areas like Oshodi, Ojuelegba. It’s a very though thing but you have to start somewhere.”
He added that regulations controlling noise pollution are for the good of the community as a whole, and that people should take responsibility for it because their own interests are on the line.
He stated that using the horn improperly is a Nigerian cultural practise that must be curbed and that other relevant organisations, such as NURTW and the Trade Union Congress, should be aware of it.
Also present at the program was Dr Abdul Afeez Toriola, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation; Dr. Tolu Ajomale, Assistant Director, ministry of Health; Yemisi Ransom-Kuti, Founder of Nigeria Network of NGOs among others.
Student of Omole Junior and Senior Secondary School were also present to give an educational presentation on the effects of environmental noise pollution.
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