The management of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in its determination to improve quality of life, restore sanity and an ambient environment, has extended its noiseless advocacy campaign to motor parks to drive home the zero-tolerance policy of the State on noise pollution and indiscriminate use of megaphones at garages.
Speaking during the enlightenment campaign at the Biode Motor Park, Ojota, the General Manager, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, said there is an urgent need to sustain an eco-friendly environment and further encourage self-regulatory and voluntary compliance of motorists to the environmental thrust of the State.
She explained the campaign was organised to mark the 6th edition of the Noiseless Lagos celebration, adding that LASEPA strongly believes in maximum enlightenment with minimum enforcement and recognises the important roles of union leaders in the formation of opinions, particularly that of their union members.
“We are imploring you to embrace the use of signage to create awareness, alert commuters and indicate locations rather than using noisy megaphones that distract and discomfort other park users. Let us respect sensitive places such as schools, hospitals, libraries, courthouses amongst others, as being observed in other climes”, Fasawe added.
The General Manager stated that the enlightenment campaign is continuous and major parks identified for noise-making shall be visited and enlightened accordingly, stressing that the choice of Biode park as a pilot scheme for the campaign was to identify with the management’s peaceful engagement and utmost consideration for a peaceful environment to encourage other parks to cue into the vision of the State on noise pollution.
With this laudable exercise, she said, LASEPA is poised to commence in earnest the restoration of sanity and orderliness in motor parks and effectively cushion the negative impact of noise on the people.
The Chairman of the Motor Park, Chief Micheal Ajilo, pledged his support for the campaign and stated that it is forbidden to use megaphones to call passengers or engage in any unfriendly activities, contrary to the government’s laid down regulations, as strict punishment awaits defaulters.
He also expressed his readiness to partner with LASEPA to spread the message to all other parks to proffer a lasting solution to incessant noise emanating from motor park activities in Lagos.
Prof. Dele Owolawi, the CEO, Decibel Hearing Consultants warned against constant noise exposure, while calling for total care of the ears and prompt report of unusual signs or development before it deteriorates.
According to him, over 100 participants benefited from the free hearing tests while some were referred for further comprehensive medical investigations to prevent losing their eardrums to avoidable noise pollution.
All representatives of relevant stakeholders in the management and coordination of motor park activities in the State such as Ms. Bisi Sonusi from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Mrs. Aminat Adelu of The Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI); Mr Olumide Filade of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Mr John Dele of Music Advertising Association of Nigeria, unanimously pledged their commitment and advised against unfriendly activities at motor parks.
In a related development, the Permanent Secretary Office of the Environmental Services, (EOS), Mrs. Aderonke Belinde Odeneye, has performed the groundbreaking exercise to commence the construction work on the laboratory facilities of the agency in line with ISO certification.
