It is incredible the level of pollution we experience in our cities in Nigeria. Noise pollution is a global problem especially in cities around the world but it is annoying when noise from man made equipment which ought to be controlled is left uncontrolled.
Noise pollution from electric generators across Nigeria forms one menace that is common in knowledge to all Nigerians. Then noise from loud speakers in our bus stops from touts calling passengers' attention to various destinations is another avoidable noise that has not attracted the attention of our governments. It is apparent that no serious attention has been given to this by our governments for along time and that may be responsible for why anyone hardly talks about it. Although the previous governor of Lagos state made efforts at stopping noise from worship centres but little was achieved from this.
One important note is noise from commercial vehicles. This is indeed worrisome. I was returning home one day and the driver placed a big speaker under a seat beside me and the volume was at the highest. All entreaties to persuade the driver to reduce the volume fell on deaf ears. This is a common occurrence in Lagos. Noise from kiosk selling pirated CD of music and play from popular artistes at bus stop and various other places is no doubt a great concern to the city dwellers.
When shall we overcome this?
Another noise pollution concern that seems unavoidable come from even homes of Nigerians who must own an electric generator as government have tried unsuccessfully to provide electricity for her teeming population.
The picture below shows some electric generators around a building where some computer operators do their businesses. The noise disturbance is better experienced than imagined.
Noise pollution seems to have become a normal thing to many Nigerians. This can be likened to a community near a refuse dump sites where stenches from the dump is no longer perceived by the inhabitants because they got used to it but were surprised when a newcomer closes his nostril when passing by. Anyone around in the community may probably wonder what is the problem with the passerby. Lagosians seem to be used to noise such that they are no longer disturbed by it. No wonder an average Lagosians are always judged as apprehensive, hypertensive and restless. A keen observer will notice this easily. Except the little attempt made by the government of Mr Raji Fashola no government has taken noise pollution serious if am not mistaken even around the country. To those who are not used to noise it is easy to be restless when in a noisy environment. The menace of noise pollution to human health and wellbeing is well established in the literature and that is why it is a huge surprise that the ministry of environment has not been doing anything about it. Do we even have a policy on noise pollution?
I attributed the aggressive behaviour of Lagos commercial bus drivers to a large extent to noise pollution. Can you imagine being exposed to noise every moment of the day? That is the life of motorists in Lagos specially bus drivers and commutters.
