The Oyo State Government has taken stringent measures by sealing a branch of an undisclosed place of worship located at Golden Estate, Oluyole, Ibadan due to noise pollution. This action followed multiple unsuccessful attempts by the State Ministry of Environment to resolve the dispute between the complainants, residents, and the church management.
According to the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the government had no choice but to seal the church premises in order to prevent a potential escalation of tensions between the residents and the church. The ministry officials had received numerous complaints from neighboring residents about the constant noise from the church activities, which led to the decision to visit the area on November 9, 2023, to record the sound levels. The average reading of the church’s activities was found to be 74 DB during the daytime, surpassing the maximum limit of 65 DB set by the environmental regulations of 2023 for residential areas.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment organized a resolution meeting involving the relevant parties on November 29, 2023, but the representatives of the church declined to sign an undertaking letter. They cited the need to seek approval from their headquarters and promised to report back on December 4, 2023, which they did not fulfill.
The government stressed its stance against noise pollution, emphasizing that offenders, whether from churches, mosques, clubhouses, industries, companies, or marketplaces, would be prosecuted.
