Ogun seals three religious centres for noise pollution

Ogun State government has sealed three religious centres over alleged contravention of the state laws on noise pollution as well as defying government’s repeated order on the menace.

The three are Christ Apostolic Church, Fountain of Faith District Headquarters, Gbogunmi, Itedo Alafia Community, Bode Olude; Ambassador of Truth Assembly International, Olorunseye Avenue, Ijeun Titun and Salvation Ministries, Kuforiji Olubi Drive, Adigbe GRA all in Abeokuta.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, said the churches were sealed after several warnings and dialogue to stop noise pollution emanating from their worship centres proved abortive.

For Christ Apostolic Church, Akintunde said the church was fond of holding evening and night vigils with its loud speakers placed outside its premises at night, thereby disturbing the peace of its immediate community.

“The community has not only complained, but has written a strong petition against the church, saying the noise pollution emanating from the church is affecting the health of their members.

“All efforts to make the presiding Pastor and elders of the church to see reasons and stop the pollution proved abortive.”

“No serious government will fold its hands and watch such infractions affect the health and well-being of its residents,” Akintunde stated.

For Ambassador of Truth Assembly, they were equally found guilty of blaring their loudspeakers at odd times, aside from incessant noise pollution during their services. Worshippers of Salvation Ministries, Adigbe were unruly. They allegedly manhandled government officials while sealing their church.

He, therefore, warned against obstructing government officials from performing their official duties, and called on other religious centres against noise pollution.

According to him, the state government will not hesitate to seal up any religious centres found guilty of noise pollution in any part of the state.