The Lagos State Government has sealed a church in the Surulere area of the state after residents raised concerns about recurring noise disturbances, which they said had been affecting their ability to sleep at night.
The affected facility, All Christians Gathering Ministry, located on Ishola Street, off Clegg, was shut down on Sunday by environmental enforcement officials following an investigation into the complaints.
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the development, explaining that the ministry was found to have breached environmental standards and disturbed the peace of people living nearby.
According to Wahab, the government acted after receiving a complaint from an X user, DAVERY, who had repeatedly drawn attention to the noise coming from the church.
“Following a complaint by @BigDavery regarding noise pollution from a church, our officials conducted an investigation and confirmed that the church was in violation of environmental regulations and constituted a nuisance to residents in the area,” Wahab said in a statement on X.
He disclosed that the ministry would remain closed until further notice.
The commissioner stressed that the government would not exempt religious organisations or commercial establishments from environmental laws, adding that businesses and institutions must operate without causing discomfort to residents.
The closure followed a public appeal made by the complainant on Saturday, when he shared videos showing the noise coming from the church during the early hours of the morning.
In his post, he explained that the disturbance had continued despite previous complaints, making it difficult for him and other residents to enjoy peaceful nights.
“Dear @tokunbo_wahab, It’s 1:31 a.m., and I can’t sleep. They’ve started again. I’m trying not to put the address out for Security reasons but I can provide necessary details in a chat, call or email when you give me a go ahead. It’s getting louder and I think it’s deliberate.”
The resident also alleged that an earlier attempt to address the situation resulted in a confrontation with a church member, who reportedly threatened him.
He further highlighted how the noise affected other households, including a family with a child below one year old.
According to him, residents sometimes had to keep their windows shut despite the heat and absence of electricity to power their fans.
The incident comes amid the Lagos State Government’s renewed enforcement against noise pollution through the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental regulations in the state prescribe maximum permissible noise levels of 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night in residential neighbourhoods.
In recent months, several religious centres, hotels, lounges and other businesses have been sealed for similar violations, particularly where operators failed to comply with environmental directives on noise control and soundproofing.
