Lagos (AFP) - Authorities in Nigeria's financial capital
Lagos have shut down churches across the city after a glut of complaints over
noisy worship.This sure is a good new development. We all love God but there is a thin line between worshiping God and constituting nuisance. Some churches don't just get it!
The chaotic megacity's environmental protection department
said it had sealed off 22 premises on Wednesday after receiving dozens of calls
a day, according to local newspaper reports.
Neighbours of one church -- Jesus Our Lord Divine Catholic
Prayer Ministry -- said they were constantly disturbed by a congregation of
mainly pregnant women, young mothers and their children.
"On my phone alone, I get 20 SMS on a daily basis," said Adebola Shabi, head of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, according to the national daily New Telegraph.
"In the next five years, if there is no stringent policy on the siting of religious houses, there will be problem."
Constant noise -- from the the thumping beats of loud music,
the beep of car horns and the noise of generator engines -- is the soundtrack
to Lagos life and is seen by many as part of its charm.
But residents are complaining in unprecedented numbers that
they can barely hear themselves think among the churches and mosques where
giant loudspeakers pump out religious messages and music.
Officials receive around 50 telephone calls and 20 text
messages a day complaining about noise, mostly from churches, the New Telegraph
said.
"With the enforcement today, we would have sealed about 55 premises because the last enforcement we carried out, we shut 33 premises," Shabi told reporters.
"I gave approval for closure of 22 premises today, making 55."
Religion is big business in Lagos, a city of around 20
million which has seen more than 6,000 traditional and alternative places of
worship spring up in recent years, according to the authorities.
Shabi said the churches would be allowed to reopen after
paying fines starting at 50,000 naira ($250, 225 euros).
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