Bringing Lagos Environmental Pollution Menace under Control

By Godfrey Adejumoh

What could be better than living and working in a serene environment where one can relax, retreat and re-learn how to stay well and discover a new zest for living? Certainly, there are enormous benefits of living in organized environment. In an organized environment, people are able to attain a more balanced lifestyle and minimize time spent on rigorous processes thereby increasing their productivity.

When the environment enables, people are less stressed; they stay focused, have better direction and get more done in less time. In organised environments people save money as they spend less on miscellaneous costs since the environment is predictable. Bills are kept up-to-date and they know where they stand. Besides, people are able to better manage their time and prioritize their tasks. They are able to manage the interruptions that often plague their attempts at getting things done in time.

It is interesting to note that organised environments help people set and achieve personal goals. With their goals in mind, they can actually spend a few minutes every evening planning for the next day. Make lists of the things they have to do and the things they want to do. As each day passes, they will be closer to their goals. Above all, their self-esteem will receive a boost, and they will experience a real feeling of freedom.

However, many of us on this side of the planet seem to prefer the other side of the ideal. That is, unorganised environment where noise pollution, street trading and indiscriminate picking and dropping of passengers have become common features in most of our cities. Ironically, these are being done with impunity, and they have increasingly become synonymous with a Mega City like Lagos whose brand proposition is to become Africa’s preferred destination for business and leisure.

A drive or walk through commercial places especially motor parks at Ikeja Under-Bridge, Ajah bus stop, Obalende bus stop, Iyana Ipaja, Igando, Iyana Oba, Ikotun, Cele, Mile 2, Ojuelegba and  Agege amongst others brings to mind this ugly scenario that can best be described as organised chaos. The high level of noise pollution caused by music record sellers and commercial bus operators who use megaphones to call passengers has reached an alarming dimension. Also, the seeming loss of control over the menace of commercial bus operators who do not have regard for traffic rules and the unwholesome street trading and hawking have all assumed serious socio-economic issues that government must tackle urgently.

What is again worrisome is the fact that we are forced to live with these abnormities as the noise pollution menace, for instance, has now crept into our bedrooms. In our various homes we sleep and wake up with noisy generators that never allow us a good sleep over the night. Offices are now noise-breeders, no thanks to power generating sets due to the failure of state power utility corporation to generate enough electricity. Religious bodies have equally turned solemn worship time to moments of agony as uncontrolled noise from megaphones itch our eardrums on a daily basis. 

Available records have it that the harmful effects of noise include increased annoyance, mental tension, irritability and emotional disturbance at work and at home. Greater circulatory, heart and equilibrium problems are found in people exposed to very noisy environments. The most pervasive and dangerous harm from noise hazard is the permanent incurable deafness as a result of continued exposure to noise levels above 90 decibels. Since harmful effects of noise on the body increase with duration and intensity, laws regulating noise pollution must specify the acceptable noise level permitted.

The auditory effects of noise also include auditory fatigue and deafness. Auditory fatigue appears in the 90 decibels and may be associated with side effects as whistling and buzzing in ears. Deafness can be caused due to continuous noise exposure. Temporary deafness occurs at 4000-6000 hz. Permanent loss of hearing occurs at 100 decibels. Mumbai and Kolkata are the nosiest cities in the world. Many persons have risk of deafness.

Further effect includes high background noise level affect the efficiency of offices, schools and other places where communication is vital. External sounds can also interfere with conversation and use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and TV. The maximum acceptable level of noise under such conditions is 55 dB. Background level of 70 dB is considered very noisy.

The loss of sleep from noise affects personal well-being and job performance. The preferable level is below 40 dB. Frequent sleep interference is a health hazard, since it deprives a person of the restorative process for his organs to renew their supply of energy and nutritive elements provided by a good night's sleep.

General annoyance is felt at about 75 to 85 decibels. Balanced persons express great annoyance at even low level of noise as crowded, highway, radio etc. Blood vessels get constricted, breathing rate is affected and muscle tension changes. It has been further observed that people suffering from hypertension, insomnia, fatigue, blood pressure and deafness show symptoms of living in noise polluted areas. Continuous exposure to high noise level is likely to cause stable reactions in the individuals and thus disturbing his personality make up. It has been observed that there are increased incidences of birth defects, still births and unusually low weight among children born to mothers living near high noise producing sources, such as airports, blasts sites etc.

Without any doubt, the Lagos State Government under Governor Babatunde Fashola has commendably done well in making the state a better place for its residents. One of the initiatives taken so far is the restriction of commercial motorcyclists on certain roads as stipulated in the new Lagos State Traffic Law. The enforcement of this regulation has been well implemented and today the menace constituted by ‘okada’ riders to free flow of traffic, environmental pollution, and accident and crime rate has been greatly minimised. The subsisting state law prohibiting noise pollution through the use of external public address systems by religious organisations is also commendable.

But by and large, the concern of many stakeholders is that more still needs to be done by government to foster a friendlier environment in Lagos. All the agencies responsible for the environmental enhancement of the state should join forces with the Fashola administration to make Lagos a better place because of its strategic position not only in Nigeria, but Africa and the world. Enlightenment campaign should also be intensified in a bid to engender positive attitude towards the environment by the residents.

With the myriad environmental and health hazards that stare us in the face, it is pertinent therefore for the concerned authorities to take a critical look at our environmental issues and let this serves as the basis for us to re-orientate ourselves and make cautious efforts to make our environment serene and conducive for all. For me, a sane environment is where things work better and more efficiently; where people live longer and achieving more in less time. And that is what we all desire.

Adejumoh, a  public relations practitioner, writes from Lagos.