Lagos State Government has shut 22 religious houses and three companies for violating the 2010 environmental law of the state.
The state government through the State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA shut the religious outfits and industries during an enforcement tour to Surulere, Abule-Egba axis and others.
Some of the churches shut by the agency were The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), God Royal Sanctuary, Lagos Province 3, Zone 15, Area 48 and another on its opposite located on Ayilara Street, Surulere. Others are Tower of Praise Ministries International Praise Centre and Jesus Our Lord Divine Catholic Prayer Ministry located at 11 Anuoluwapo Street, Ilasamaja.
The agency also shut a Strip Club/Hotel, popularly known as Shakara Bar at Thomas Salako Street, Ogba.
The companies affected are Dura Products Industries Nigeria Limited on Sanni Olabode Street, Abule Egba, Mopson Pharmaceuticals Industry located on Osolo Way.
General Manager of LASEPA, Adebola Shabi, who addressed newsmen after the exercise lamented that that the churches were fond of going back to their old ways after brief compliance. The ones sanctioned would therefore have to pay fines ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 before they are reopened.
The companies shut were said to be releasing toxic effluent into the lagoon while the strip club was shut due to noise pollution, and would never be reopened again because all directives to control noise pollution in the last two years have never been complied with.
“Ogba being a mixed residential and industrial area, should have a decibel not exceeding 55 at night. “The noise coming from Shakara is more than 100 decibel. And anyone exposed to 115 decibel of noise for about six hours will automatically go deaf. That is the kind of risk Shakara poses to the area,” an official of LASEPA said on condition of anonymity.
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