Lagos is the busiest state in Nigeria and in Africa. Being the fullest municipal, we encounter lots of people hustling, shoving, hawking, and striving in every part of the state.
The noise of vehicles, motorists and people are almost heard every second of the day. Added to these is the noise pollution generated daily from motor parks. If you have boarded a vehicle from any of Lagos bus station, then you would give kudos to the Babajide Sanwo-Olu government for his recent banning of loudspeaker noises at parks and other public places.
Lagos, the centre of excellence, seems to be following the trend of developed countries, in the sense that no din of noise pollution is allowed henceforth.
Noise pollution has many disadvantages, stretching from blood pressure, sleep disruption, stress, heart disease, fear and others. These drawbacks affect the young and the old. Exposure to noise pollution over time can also lead to hearing impairment.
Lagos, having prohibited noise pollution, should however also look into land pollution. Virtually, all Lagos parks I have visited are dirty. And this is due to the nonchalant attitude of many residents who drop everything they eat and drink on the road.
A few years ago, I was going to Lagos Island by daybreak. And I needed to board a bus from Ogba motor-park. It was an eyesore as the parking garage looked like an incinerator that morning. Pet bottles, empty cans of drinks, dirt and the infamous black nylon covered the whole place.
Activities had already commenced, as many shops, hawkers and peddlers busy with their wares and unconcerned about their immediate environment. Being a person that cannot behold rubbish around me, I didn’t like the atmosphere at all as the whole premised was filled with filth. I endured on the queue, until it was my turn to take a bus.
Lagos should monitor her parks; ensuring dirt is not thrown on the ground. Providing containers where passengers can throw filth and reserving sweepers who work in the evenings would be a lasting solution.
Hope you agree with me on this.
