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LASG Bans Sound Systems, Amplifiers At Motor Parks
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday banned the use of all forms of amplifiers at all motor parks across the State, warning that violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka stated this during a joint press briefing held in conjunction with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to enlighten the public about steps being taken to curb the menace of noise pollution in all Lagos Motor Parks/Garages.
Fayinka lamented the indiscriminate use of megaphones and speakers to attract passengers at Motor Parks, stressing that defaulting motor parks would also be shut, while those caught using noise generating devices within the motor parks would be sanctioned.
His words: “This new directive is effective from today; any motor park found to be using amplifiers or any noise-making device is culpable and must be ready to face the consequences. The park monitoring committee has been mandated to monitor motor parks across the State for total compliance and enforcement. This is to restore sanity and entrench the right of other Lagosians to a noiseless environment”.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Tajudeen Omobolaji Gaji, stated that noise pollution is an unwanted sound in excess of the permissible limits, which has become prevalent in the Lagos environment.
According to him, constant exposure to noise pollution is causing a lot of stress for residents in addition to severe health implications such as hearing loss and other ailments that are detrimental to human health.
Noting that noise pollution is the most prevalent among the complaints received by the government annually as it accounts for about 75% of total grievances, Gaji stated that major sources of noise pollution in Lagos State are commercial vehicles, religious buildings, commercial enterprises, industries, entertainment facilities and power generating sets amongst others.
He disclosed further that the result of a survey conducted after the State government organised a free hearing test for road transport workers during the Y2021 ‘Noiseless Lagos’ campaign at Biode Motor Park, Ojota, revealed that a high percentage of hearing loss among the subjects were unknown to them.
Gaji pointed out that the outcome of the study is of great concern to everyone, eliciting an urgent need for intervention on the part of the State Government through the ban on the use of speakers in garages and motor parks in Lagos State.
In her contribution, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, reiterated that no motor park is allowed from Tuesday, the 8th of February, 2022, to use amplifiers or other noise-making devices to call passengers or advertise goods within the State.
She said: “Section 177 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 prohibits the use of public address system or loudspeaker to solicit for passengers or advertise the sale of goods at parks, markets and public places”.
Dr. Fasawe added that there is a specified amount of decibel of noise required in the daytime and at night, therefore, residents should guide their actions in line with the directive of the State government.
Prof. Dele Owolawi, Consultant Audiologist and CEO, Decibel Hearing Consultants, commended the laudable initiative on motor park noise, describing the increasing rate Nigerians are battling with hearing impairment as alarming and worrisome, especially to medical experts.
He averred that no fewer than 8.5 million Nigerians are suffering from hearing impairments, noting that a recent study conducted at the motor parks showed that 17 per cent of the people working in the parks are suffering from hearing impairments as a result of the noise pollution in the environment.
On his part, Dr. Tolu Ajomale, Project Coordinator and Mental Health Desk Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, stated that studies have linked noise pollution to increased anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, instability, sleep disorder and stroke with significant impact on health and mental health amongst others.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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