WITH a population of over 170 million and an environment not free from
mechanical, electrical and other forms of human generated noise, it is
not unreasonable to assume that noise in Nigeria is increasing in
relation to urbanisation, as well as noise sources multiplying at a
faster pace.
Noise pollution is an underrated environmental problem, as in fact, it does not even exist to many. What is pleasant to some ears, may be extremely unpleasant to others.
From neighbours to worship centres; vehicular traffic noise from engines and pressure horns; construction and industrial noise, noise has become a very significant stress factor in the environment.
Over the years, there has been an upsurge in the use of electricity generating plant, due to unstable electricity supply in the country. And this in turn has effects on both the environment and human health. The noise, coupled with the smoke emission has great effects on the ozone layer.
Religious centres on the other hand, have also become sources of noise pollution, especially in residential areas. As there seems to be no effective policy in place as regards where worship centres could be, noise from mosques and churches, have become unbearable for many, especially with the use of heavy public address systems, not only during the daytime, but even throughout the night.
Speaking with Ecoscope, an air quality and noise specialist with the Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Jacob Sonibare, noted that sources of noise in the country depend on the location of interest.
“While automobiles are some of the major sources of noise in the cities, the major sources in the rural areas may be religious centres. In the bush where there is little or no human presence, base transceiver station (BTS) may be the source. Due to the present shortage of electricity from the national grid, privately owned electric power generators for electric power generation are major sources in some areas,” he said.
According to him, most people living in urban areas of the country are living in noisy areas.
“Most people living in urban areas of the country could be said to be living in noisy areas due to several sources of noise present in those areas. Similarly, everyone living in industrial areas could be described as living in noisy areas. People living around most of our religious centres in the country can also be placed in this category.”
The environmental and health effects of noise pollution in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.
While noise often disturb sleep pattern for many, excessive exposure to it many times result in mood changes, slowness in task performance, as well as increased blood pressure. Impaired hearing sometimes, is another effect.
“Noise, especially those emanating from factory machines is capable of causing distress, sleeplessness, fatigue, stroke, high blood pressure and physiological disorder, among other issues. This in turn reduces productivity, hence reducing the sighted economy boom.
“This is however, not limited only to industrialisation, but also to some other urbanisation factors like generators, blaring of horns, as well as even noises that emanate as a result of overcrowding or overpopulation,” Emmanuel Awoyode, an environmentalist said.
Perhaps this has continued to persist because there seems to be no recommended limits for noise levels, especially in standard residential areas, as well as effective implementation of environmental policies in the country.
Reacting to this, Professor Sonibare said: “there are recommended limits for noise already in place by regulatory bodies like the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Institutions like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank also have noise limits in place.
“The World Bank industrial area ambient noise limit is 70 dB(A) with 45 dB(A) and 55 dB(A) night-time and day-time ambient noise limits. So the issue we have on these limits in the country is implementation. While some states adhere strictly to these limits, others don’t. There are noise limits within which religious centres are expected to operate in Lagos State, and the recent forced closure of some religious worship centres in the state due to their violations of these noise limits is a good example indicating that some states in the country actually have laws regulating noise emissions in their cities,” he said.
However, for Awoyode, there are unfortunately, weak or no laws in place to combat this menace.
“The United Nations Environmental Protection Agency (UNEP) propagated some standard level of noise pollution for residential area at around 75db and maximum for industrial area at around 90db. Yet people still emanate noise beyond this. In Nigeria for instance, before the advent of NESREA, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) was the only body ensuring and enforcing compliance to the environmental standards of the nation from federal level to local government level, as much as they could try in other aspect of pollution control, they failed woefully in the control of noise.
“The inception of NESREA brought relief but not as expected, as not even in the federal capital territory of Nigeria is the control of noise in place,” Awoyode said.
The Federal Government as a matter of urgency needs to review the existing noise pollution regulatory laws and ensure compliance with the activities put in place to control noise in living areas.
“To tackle noise in the country, every stakeholder must provide an environment that is conducive for both daytime and night-time noise emissions. Funds and equipment must also be made available to conduct research and in addition to noise monitoring, there must be some emphasis on modelling. When these are done, a direction can then be developed on how noise can be controlled in our society,” Professor Sonibare said.
Awoyode, opined that it will be of the nation’s best interest if the bodies involved and the national assembly strengthens the already existing laws concerning noise pollution and move more bills to establish the fact that anything beyond 60dB is criminal.
Noise pollution is an underrated environmental problem, as in fact, it does not even exist to many. What is pleasant to some ears, may be extremely unpleasant to others.
From neighbours to worship centres; vehicular traffic noise from engines and pressure horns; construction and industrial noise, noise has become a very significant stress factor in the environment.
Over the years, there has been an upsurge in the use of electricity generating plant, due to unstable electricity supply in the country. And this in turn has effects on both the environment and human health. The noise, coupled with the smoke emission has great effects on the ozone layer.
Religious centres on the other hand, have also become sources of noise pollution, especially in residential areas. As there seems to be no effective policy in place as regards where worship centres could be, noise from mosques and churches, have become unbearable for many, especially with the use of heavy public address systems, not only during the daytime, but even throughout the night.
Speaking with Ecoscope, an air quality and noise specialist with the Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Jacob Sonibare, noted that sources of noise in the country depend on the location of interest.
“While automobiles are some of the major sources of noise in the cities, the major sources in the rural areas may be religious centres. In the bush where there is little or no human presence, base transceiver station (BTS) may be the source. Due to the present shortage of electricity from the national grid, privately owned electric power generators for electric power generation are major sources in some areas,” he said.
According to him, most people living in urban areas of the country are living in noisy areas.
“Most people living in urban areas of the country could be said to be living in noisy areas due to several sources of noise present in those areas. Similarly, everyone living in industrial areas could be described as living in noisy areas. People living around most of our religious centres in the country can also be placed in this category.”
The environmental and health effects of noise pollution in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.
While noise often disturb sleep pattern for many, excessive exposure to it many times result in mood changes, slowness in task performance, as well as increased blood pressure. Impaired hearing sometimes, is another effect.
“Noise, especially those emanating from factory machines is capable of causing distress, sleeplessness, fatigue, stroke, high blood pressure and physiological disorder, among other issues. This in turn reduces productivity, hence reducing the sighted economy boom.
“This is however, not limited only to industrialisation, but also to some other urbanisation factors like generators, blaring of horns, as well as even noises that emanate as a result of overcrowding or overpopulation,” Emmanuel Awoyode, an environmentalist said.
Perhaps this has continued to persist because there seems to be no recommended limits for noise levels, especially in standard residential areas, as well as effective implementation of environmental policies in the country.
Reacting to this, Professor Sonibare said: “there are recommended limits for noise already in place by regulatory bodies like the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Institutions like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank also have noise limits in place.
“The World Bank industrial area ambient noise limit is 70 dB(A) with 45 dB(A) and 55 dB(A) night-time and day-time ambient noise limits. So the issue we have on these limits in the country is implementation. While some states adhere strictly to these limits, others don’t. There are noise limits within which religious centres are expected to operate in Lagos State, and the recent forced closure of some religious worship centres in the state due to their violations of these noise limits is a good example indicating that some states in the country actually have laws regulating noise emissions in their cities,” he said.
However, for Awoyode, there are unfortunately, weak or no laws in place to combat this menace.
“The United Nations Environmental Protection Agency (UNEP) propagated some standard level of noise pollution for residential area at around 75db and maximum for industrial area at around 90db. Yet people still emanate noise beyond this. In Nigeria for instance, before the advent of NESREA, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) was the only body ensuring and enforcing compliance to the environmental standards of the nation from federal level to local government level, as much as they could try in other aspect of pollution control, they failed woefully in the control of noise.
“The inception of NESREA brought relief but not as expected, as not even in the federal capital territory of Nigeria is the control of noise in place,” Awoyode said.
The Federal Government as a matter of urgency needs to review the existing noise pollution regulatory laws and ensure compliance with the activities put in place to control noise in living areas.
“To tackle noise in the country, every stakeholder must provide an environment that is conducive for both daytime and night-time noise emissions. Funds and equipment must also be made available to conduct research and in addition to noise monitoring, there must be some emphasis on modelling. When these are done, a direction can then be developed on how noise can be controlled in our society,” Professor Sonibare said.
Awoyode, opined that it will be of the nation’s best interest if the bodies involved and the national assembly strengthens the already existing laws concerning noise pollution and move more bills to establish the fact that anything beyond 60dB is criminal.
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