Noise Pollution Control Is Achievable In Lagos State Says LASU VC

Professor Olarenwaju Fagbohun SAN

By LOVETH AZODO,  Lagos

Following the increase of noise pollution in Lagos State and its manifold and harmful effects to human health, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun SAN has stated that if strategical long-term Commitment is put in place noise pollution control will be achievable in Lagos State.

Fagbohun stated this at the fourth Annual Stakeholders Interactive Session On Noise Pollution Control organised by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) under the Ministry of Environment, with the theme “Noise Mapping and New Urban Development Plan – The Lagos Experience.

During his lecture, The LASU VC who was the guest speaker at the interactive session gave a statutory definition of noise as any unwanted and annoying sound that is intrinsically objectionable to human beings or which can have or is likely to have an adverse effect on human health or the environment adding that the word noise is derived from the Latin word nauseas, meaning sickness.

According to the VC, the seemingly endless Predicament of Lagos State residents has several effects on human health and is recognized by World Health Organisation (WHO) as a major threat to human well being.

Under Physical effects he highlighted “hearing defects, cognitive impairment in children Physiological effect: increased blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, ulcers, headache, narrowing of arteries, nervous breakdown; psychological effects :sleep disorders, irritability and stress, depression, emotional disturbance; work performance: low productivity, reduction in creativity; ”

“Wider Implications of noise pollution are decrease in quality of life and life expectancy; avoidable burden on healthcare system, vegetable, Animal and property are not spared.” he added.

The 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University gave a detailed explanation of noise mapping, he said “it is a graphical representation of the predicted situation with regards to noise in a particular area and coloured according to the noise levels in the area.”

First steps in noise mapping, according to him are creating of a digital city model where element (roads, railways lines, markets, terrain, building etc) and their related data ( traffics, elevations, inhabitants etc) are imputed in the software; Development of GIS environments where all aspects of a city are integrated into a digital urban planning tool, validation of model through application of automated workflow for the simplification and optimization of the model; perform noise grid and building evaluation calculations using quality assured calculation standards.

Citing the LASEPA Communique 2016 “By the year 2020, the projection is for Lagos State to be a noiseless city through the reduction of noise pollution to the bearest minimal” he asked some fundamental questions on the Lagos Experience “Can we truly say we have achieved the benefits of the exact regulatory framework in the context of reduction of noise? Is our current design able to give a complete picture that can match current needs? Are we able to assess in harmonized way a consistent and reliable picture of the acoustic situation in Lagos? Are we able to assess the burden of disease from environment noise”?

On Understanding the Challenges of noise pollution control he stated Enforcement is inconsistent and not at all comprehensive; Agencies Lack funding and personnel necessary to carry out their enforcement role; Measurement must be taken at the right times and the right places in order to document a noise violation to mention but a few.

On noise mapping, the Commissioner Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti during his address explained “noise mapping describes spatial distribution of noise in a particular environment, which allows for efficient visualization of noise distribution in area where land use are sensitive to noise.”

According to the Commissioner noise mapping is a very efficient tool for noise assessment in a urban area.

Also Speaking, the General Manager, LASEPA, Engr. Antonio A. Ayodele stated the first step to decrease noise pollution is the preparation of noise maps, to enable comparison between noise levels relative to noise locations on the maps.

The GM urged Lagosians to come together to develop a culture of sustainable noise management in all sectors of the economy.