An Anambra resident blames churches for noise pollution in Onitsha

Victor Ononye, ​​a public affairs analyst and resident of Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of ​​Anambra State, has called for urgent intervention by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to put an end to noise pollution in the metropolitan city.

Ononye, ​​who made the call in Onitsha, said preachers from different churches divide places like the American Quarters Community in Onitsha, place their loudspeakers in residential homes while preaching, playing gospel songs or praying even at odd hours of the day.

He said: “American Quarters was the first European settlement and also the residential home of the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Loud preaching with the use of extraordinary loudspeakers, drums and trumpets pose serious health risks to residents.

“Most of the pastors and preachers are shouting at the top of their lungs, preaching fear to the public, condemning the government of the day, insinuating hatred and selective division and above all acting as laws unto themselves. There is also the emotional and religious blackmail of an impending doomsday and the rest of the bigotry that divides the people. All this has become a nightmare for the defenseless residents.

“Note that some of these crusades, demonstrations, etc., take place at very strange times, early in the day or late in the evening, when residents should have been resting, thus increasing their suffering and misery. With these uncontrolled demonstrations and sermons targeting residential neighborhoods, there is no point in government-planned urban settlements,” he said.