The Lagos State Government has warned that more churches, mosques and entertainment centres could be shut down as it intensifies its campaign against noise pollution across the state.
The government said religious institutions and businesses must operate within approved environmental standards and avoid activities that interfere with the peace of residents.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) General Manager, Dr Tunde Ajayi, disclosed that the agency would continue its enforcement operations against establishments that exceed permitted noise levels despite receiving warnings.
The planned crackdown has received support from the Lagos chapters of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), as well as some Islamic leaders. However, the National President of Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Daood Molaasan, has called on the government to explore other ways of addressing the problem rather than shutting down places of worship.
The renewed enforcement comes after the state government sealed The All Christians Gathering Ministry in Surulere following complaints that its overnight activities were making life uncomfortable for people living nearby.
Announcing the action, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said investigations established that the church had breached environmental regulations.
The development followed a complaint posted on X by a resident who identified as DAVERY (@BigDavery), who appealed to the commissioner after reportedly being unable to sleep because of the noise coming from the church.
The incident generated heated reactions online, with some social media users questioning why religious institutions were being shut down and alleging that churches were being unfairly targeted.
The commissioner rejected the accusations, pointing out that mosques had equally been affected by the enforcement exercise. He had earlier shared an image of Ifelodun Mosque after it was sealed by LASEPA.
Explaining the government’s position, Ajayi said the noise regulations applied to every establishment, regardless of whether it was a religious centre, business or entertainment facility.
He stated that residential areas were permitted to have noise levels of 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
According to him, some of the facilities recently sealed had failed to respond to two earlier warnings issued by the agency.
Ajayi also disclosed that mosques could be sanctioned if the external broadcast of the call to prayer went beyond the five-minute limit allowed under the state’s regulations.
He encouraged Lagos residents to report establishments disturbing their neighbourhoods, assuring them that complaints would be investigated before appropriate action was taken.
The LASEPA boss explained that the agency followed a four-step enforcement process, beginning with an abatement notice and a pre-sanction notice. Facilities that failed to comply could subsequently be sealed and fined.
“While we understand that people are in business, particularly entertainment houses, their businesses should not disrupt the lives of other people significantly. They should not have to wake people from sleep with their noise,” he added.
Christian leaders support government’s action
The Lagos CAN Chairman, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, said churches must understand that their activities should not prevent other people from enjoying their homes, particularly at night.
He explained that the association had continued to educate its members on the need to control their sound systems and avoid disturbing people in their communities.
Adegbite maintained that organising overnight services in residential neighbourhoods did not give churches the right to make excessive noise.
“We don’t expect anybody to violate such rules and regulations because, when you are having your own service, some people may be resting. You cannot say you want to have a vigil and your church is situated in a place that is accommodating others, or in an estate, and you are now making noise from 10pm to 5am. That is not acceptable anywhere in the world,” he said.
He added that CAN would not stand in the way of government action against churches found violating the regulations, stressing that worship centres must also respect the rights of their neighbours.
The Lagos PFN Chairman, Pastor Yemi Davids, said the fellowship had also been engaging the government over complaints involving churches.
He revealed that discussions between the PFN, government representatives and other stakeholders had produced an arrangement through which complaints against churches would first be referred to the fellowship for examination.
Under the arrangement, the organisation would reach out to affected pastors, investigate the complaints and encourage them to correct any confirmed violations.
However, Davids said enforcement should be carried out fairly and should not become an excuse to victimise religious organisations.
“We don’t encourage noise pollution at all, and we also do not want undue persecution of churches for no reason. When there is any church that has violated the regulation, there should be a warning, maybe in the form of letters to PFN or engagement before the final sealing of the church,” he said.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, Kayode Ajala, also backed the government’s decision.
He argued that constitutional protection for religious worship did not give churches and mosques the freedom to disregard the rights of people living around them.
Ajala urged religious organisations to be mindful of their locations and ensure their activities did not turn peaceful residential areas into sources of constant disturbance.
Muslim leaders divided over crackdown
The Chief Imam of Daaru Na’im Central Mosque in Lagos, Sheikh Imran Eleha, supported the government’s position, insisting that religious activities should never become a burden to neighbours.
He warned against attempts to use religious sentiments to discourage authorities from enforcing environmental laws.
“There is no provision in Islam that permits Muslims to inconvenience other people around them in the name of worship. We have a hadith in which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) admonished Muslims not to disturb one another while worshipping or reciting the Qur’an, reminding them that everyone is communicating with their Lord and should not raise their voices in a way that inconveniences others,” he said.
Eleha explained that external loudspeakers were mainly necessary for broadcasting the call to prayer, while other mosque activities could be conducted using internal sound systems.
He particularly criticised midnight gatherings where worshippers use loudspeakers, drums and other instruments, saying such practices were inconsistent with the Islamic obligation to respect neighbours.
He also urged churches to reconsider noisy night vigils that involve excessive drumming, music and dancing in residential communities.
However, Molaasan maintained that sealing worship centres was not the best way to address noise pollution.
He argued that the government should consider engaging religious organisations and introducing restrictions on activities such as night vigils instead of shutting down churches and mosques.
“We are not in support of the closures of churches or mosques because of noise pollution. The government should come up with another action instead of shutting the worship centres. Look at the number of people going to church and mosques; the government may end up becoming an enemy of the people.”
He further proposed that the government summon religious leaders for discussions and issue clear warnings to organisations violating the rules.
“The government should call the worship centres together and warn them against noise pollution. There are ways to compel them instead of shutting the worship centres. The government can ban night vigils. Whoever wants to do a vigil should do that in his or her house, or without using a microphone.”