The churches, mosques, nightclubs, and bars that do not adhere to the new rules may face closure as part of the Enugu State Government’s aggressive campaign against noise pollution in the city.
This action is a component of the government’s larger anti-noise campaign, which aims to allay citizens’ growing worries about loud noises during religious services and events.
The government will not tolerate any establishment, be it a church, mosque, nightclub, or bar, that allows sound to spill over into neighboring compounds, according to Uche Anya, the Chairperson of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, who made the announcement on Thursday during a town hall meeting attended by residents, religious leaders, and business owners.
“Churches should build acoustics, mosques and nightclubs should build acoustics,” Anya stated. “We will not allow sounds from churches, mosques, nightclubs, and even bars to be heard in other compounds.”
This decision comes after the state government received over 1,000 petitions from residents complaining about the detrimental effects of noise pollution on their daily lives. Anya pointed out that noise pollution has become a significant issue in Enugu, disrupting the peace and sleep of many residents, particularly in areas where religious activities and nightlife converge with residential neighborhoods.
“We have zones in the Enugu metropolis. You can’t establish a church in a residential area. We will not allow that. We will shut such churches down,” Anya declared, adding that the same rules apply to nightclubs operating in residential areas.
In an effort to interact with stakeholders and get feedback on the most effective way to carry out the noise control measures, the government held the town hall meeting. All impacted establishments were advised to take urgent action to comply with the restrictions, including installing acoustics or soundproofing measures, by Anya, who emphasized that enforcement would start on November 15, 2023.
Anya cautioned, saying, “We don’t want to hear the sound of your music in another person’s compound.” She also mentioned that structures constructed outside of the state’s master plan but with permission from the government would have to follow the new noise control guidelines.
