Surulere Residents Get Relief As LASG Seals Church Over Noise Pollution
By Sherif Salau
Residents of Surulere have received a boost in their fight against noise pollution as the Lagos State Government seals The All Christians Gathering Ministry following confirmed environmental violations, reaffirming its commitment to protecting neighbourhood peace, public health and the right to a conducive living environment. For some residents of Ishola Street, off Clegg in Surulere, sleep had become a nightly struggle.
Today, relief arrived. Officials of the Lagos State Government sealed The All Christians Gathering Ministry at No. 1, Ishola Street after confirming that the church was operating in violation of environmental regulations and constituting a nuisance to people living in the area.
The action followed a public complaint by a resident who tagged the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in the early hours of Saturday. In a post made around 1.31 a.m., the resident said the noise had started again, was growing louder, and was making sleep impossible. He offered to provide further details privately for security reasons.
Wahab responded by directing officials to investigate. Their findings confirmed the violation. In a statement posted on Sunday, the commissioner announced that the church had been sealed and would remain shut until further notice.
“We will not tolerate environmental violations or any form of nuisance that disrupts the peace and well-being of residents,” Wahab said. “All religious institutions, businesses and other establishments are required to comply strictly with environmental regulations. Our enforcement actions will remain firm and decisive. No individual or institution is above the law.”
The sealing reflects a continuing effort by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of the Environment to enforce noise control rules in residential neighbourhoods. Permissible noise levels in such areas are set at 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. Persistent breaches, especially during night-time services, have led to similar enforcement actions against churches, hotels and entertainment venues across the state in recent months.
The commissioner’s statement makes clear that the government expects every institution, religious or commercial, to respect the right of citizens to peaceful living. Whether the church will eventually meet the conditions required for reopening remains to be seen, but for now the residents of Ishola Street have the quieter nights they sought. For residents who had endured repeated disturbances, the closure offers a measure of calm.
