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The Abuja Environmental and Protection Board (AEPB) has called on churches and mosques operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to abide by the laws against noise pollution to avoid sanction.

Mrs Rebecca Mamvem, the Acting Head of Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement of AEPB, made the called in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Abuja.

Mamvem said it was worrisome that some churches and mosques were mounting their speakers and other public address facilities outside their buildings, thereby causing noise pollution in the territory.

“We are appealing to religious houses, like Mosques and Churches in the FCT with speakers outside to please bring those speakers down, because it is noise pollution and is against the law.

“There are laws governing level of noise in the FCT; for residential areas, 45 decibel is allow during night time and 65 decibel is allow during the day.

“For commercial areas, 70 decibel is permitted during the day time, while 50 decibel is for night time, and if you have a lounge or anything that generate noise in a residential area, it has to be sound proof.

“AEPB is created to bring sanity to the FCT, but sometimes responsible outfits are also contributing to the noise pollution. It is unacceptable,” Mamvem said.

She explained that in other civilised countries of the world, religious houses do not involve in noise pollution, saying that most of them have sound proof facilities in their buildings.

Mamvem said that it was not the level of noise that would make God to hear prayers of His people.

“God is always by our side, thus putting speakers outside the buildings and shouting aloud disturbing the neighbourhood is against the environmental laws in the FCT.

“AEPB normally deploy its noise meter to places that contribute to noise pollution. Culprits will not be speared,” she said.

Mamven called on residents and organisations to report any act that constitute noise pollution to the AEPB for prompt action.

Newsmen report that the board recently confiscated the facilities of a night club ‘The Lounge’ in Kubwa for violating the noise limit in a residential area.

NAN

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