Ogun seals 3 churches over ‘noise pollution’

The Ogun State Government has sealed three churches for allegedly contravening the state laws on noise pollution and defying government repeated order.

The affected worship centres are Christ Apostolic Church, Fountain of Faith District Headquarters, Gbogunmi, Itedo Alafia Community, Bode Olude; Ambassador of Truth Assembly International located on Olorunseye Avenue, Ijeun Titun and Salvation Ministries on Kuforiji Olubi Drive Adigbe GRA, all in Abeokuta.

In sealing the churches, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, said all the three churches were sealed after several warnings and dialogue with the authorities to stop the noise pollution emanating from the worship centres proved abortive.

Akintunde said the Christ Apostolic Church, Gbogunmi, was fond of holding vigils with its loud speakers placed outside its premises at night, thereby disturbing the peace of its immediate community.

“The community has not only complained, but has written a strong petition against the church saying the noise pollution emanating from the church is affecting the health of their members.

“All efforts to make the presiding Pastor and the Elders of the church to see reasons to stop the pollution proved abortive. No serious government will fold its hands and watch such infractions affect the health and well-being of its residents,” Akintunde stated.

He therefore warned against obstructing government officials from performing their official duties, and cautioned other religious centres against noise pollution, saying the state government would not hesitate to seal up any of them found guilty of noise pollution in any part of the state.