The Oyo State Government has taken decisive action to address noise pollution by sealing a branch of an undisclosed place of worship located at Golden Estate, Oluyole, Ibadan. The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, announced the government’s decision in a statement issued on Friday.
The move came after the State Ministry of Environment attempted to mediate in the dispute between the church management, residents, and complainants, but the efforts were unsuccessful. The government, concerned about escalating tensions, decided to seal the church premises.
Residents had previously locked the estate gate against church members, and numerous complaints were received about the incessant noise. The Ministry of Environment conducted sound level measurements on November 9, 2023, during various church activities, recording an average reading of 74 decibels (DB) during daytime. This exceeded the permissible noise limits for residential areas, set at 65 DB according to the extant environmental regulations of 2023.
Despite attempts to resolve the issue through a resolution meeting on November 29, 2023, where the church representatives were asked to sign an undertaking letter, they refused, citing the need for approval from their headquarters. The church representatives failed to comply with the agreed-upon timeline of reporting back by December 4, 2023.
The government’s statement emphasized its commitment to curbing noise pollution and warned that violators, including churches, mosques, clubhouses, industries, companies, and marketplaces, would be prosecuted.