The Enugu State government says it will soon commence the implementation of the Anti-noise pollution policy in Enugu metropolis in order to regulate noise within the residential areas.
The chairman, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Mr Uche Anya made the assertion on Thursday during a stakeholders’ engagement on how to minimise noise in the state, held at the state secretariat, Enugu.
NewsBits reports that the meeting had in attendance religious leaders both the Christians and Muslims, owners of entertainment centres among others. Mr Anya who described the engagement as apt, said the implementation will begin from November 15, 2024, with sanctions, and advised churches and owners of entertainment centres to soundproof their buildings in order not to disturb the neighbourhood.
The chairman further emphasized that the aim of the engagement was not to demolish any church or entertainment centre, but to brainstorm on the best way to make the residential areas hospitable.
While stating that the authority has received over a thousand petitions from the people concerning the rate of noise pollution in the state, the ECTDA boss pointed out that if a church or an entertainment centre existed before residential houses started springing up around the zone, the church or the entertainment centre has only to soundproof the building.
He threatened to shut down any church or entertainment centre sited within the residential zones that refuses to comply with the directives of the government even when it obtained any form of noise permit from the state government.
Anya promised that the agency will be humane in handling the situation which according to him, was not aimed at harming anyone, but to make the state conducive for living and for the best interest of the citizens. In their separate speeches, religious leaders, Rev. Carley Ibekwe and Alhaji Sariki Sambo assured the agency of their readiness to comply with the directives.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on mainstream media, Chief Dan Nwome and his new media counterpart, Dr Reuben Onyishi who commended the ECTDA chairman for his efforts in bringing sanity in the state metropolis, urged the agency to also consider relocating roadside mechanics to a befitting place.
