The Ghanaian Minaret

Enugu state, Nigeria : The Enugu State Government has issued a 90-day ultimatum to all the churches and mosques to remove outdoor loudspeakers.

It has encouraged the worshipper centres to adopt and install soundproof technologies within their premises. 

“From now to the next three months every church and mosque must remove outside loudspeakers and begin to install soundproof (acoustic) in their worship centres,” said Uche Anya, the Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority.

He was speaking on Thursday at the end of a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of a state anti-noise pollution policy that sought to reduce noise pollution.

He said that noise pollution has been the biggest challenge to ensuring a peaceful and noise-free environment for all residents, adding that the cooperation of religious leaders is essential in achieving this goal.

He lamented that his office has received over 1,000 petitions over noise pollution from homes around different churches, mosques, and businesses, the All News reported.

“I have been in this office for one year, and in the last year we have received over a thousand petitions complaining about noise pollution.

According to the Punch Newspaper, the meeting was attended by church leaders, media practitioners, government officials, and Muslim leaders in the state.

The government had in 2023, as part of the urban renewal policy, directed all nightclubs, beer parlours, and other entertainment operators to mitigate their noise pollution in the capital city, particularly in residential areas.