Islamic group reacts as Lagos govt shuts churches, mosques – TheNigerialawyer

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind
the war against noise pollution being waged by the Lagos State
Government.

On Sunday, closed down eight worship centres across the state
for contravening environmental pollution regulations.

Dr Dolapo Fasawe, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental
Protection Agency (LASEPA), who led the exercise, said that there
would be no hiding place for any religious organisation which
failed to operate within the ambit of the law, regardless of their
faith.

In a statement on Monday by MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, he
disclosed that his office had received several complaints and
petitions from many residents and associations across the state
against some religious centres, clubs, hotels, etc.

He said: “We in MURIC back LASG’s move one hundred percent.
There is an urgent need to inject a heavy dose of sanity in some
religious centres in particular. The Lagos environment has been
bastardised by tramadolised religiosity. Decorum is no longer
respected in the way people preach.

“They raise noise level to the highest decibel and traumatize
the neighbourhood. Dusk to dawn services rob Lagosians of sleep as
preachers scream to high heaven.

“Worse still, the champions of articulated proselytisation take
over commercial vehicles in the daytime preaching from one
destination to another and making it impossible for the drivers to
concentrate. This is not allowed in sane societies. It is a mark of
religious fanaticism.

“The noisy night vigils and preaching inside commercial vehicles
have been partly responsible for road accidents as motorists
deprived of sleep and proper rest at night often doze off at the
steering wheel, killing innocent Lagosians.

“In addition, noise pollution has been party responsible for
poor academic performance among students as they find it difficult
to study in an acrobatically religionised environment.

“Furthermore, this gymnastic spirituality has been responsible
for the death of many sick Lagosians while the illness of several
others have deteriorated due to their inability to get proper rest
in their homes. We note with great interest that Lagos has been
paying attention to this social cankerworm over the years.

“We therefore hail LASG for being consistent in the war against
environmental pollution. We urge the Ministry of Environment to
fight the battle resiliently no matter whose ox is gored. We advise
all mosques in the state to obey the rules on noise pollution or
face the music.

“Except on Friday during the khutbah (sermon), mosques should
switch off their public address systems after the call to prayer
(adhan). Other irrelevant messages are for those inside the mosque,
not for those in their private homes. Lagosians reserve the right
to enjoy their privacy. Your own rights stop where those of others
begin.

“As we take a break, we charge LASEPA to visit the full wrath of
the law on any mosque or church that violates the noise pollution
law. There should be no sacred cows. People who refuse to do things
properly do a lot of harm to society.

“We advise the commissioner to dust up his files and step up the
petitions. Offenders will not take LASEPA serious unless action is
taken against them. It is all in the interest of a better
society.”