The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has sealed
a hotel owned by ex-Super Eagles player, Kanu Nwankwo, the
Hardley Apartments, on Victoria Island.
The hotel was among other hotels, churches and mosques
sealed across the state on Monday over alleged air and noise
pollution.
No fewer than 30 facilities were shut in areas, including Ketu,
Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki, Victoria Island and Surulere.
LASEPA said the owners of the facilities had been contacted
several times in the last one year, adding that they refused to
fully complied with LASEPA’s instructions.
At a mosque in Ketu ─ Olorunkemi Mosque ─ the leaders
claimed to have taken down their speakers as instructed by
the agency almost immediately.
However, the mosque was sealed for allegedly not complying
fully with LASEPA’s instruction.
Other places also sealed include the Rain of Power and
Miracles Ministry Church, Lekki; Christ Apostolic Church,
Lekki; Duckland Hotels and Suites, Ikorodu; and Mela Rossa
Club, Victoria Island.
At the Hardley Apartments, it was noticed that the generators
powering the hotel had large exhaust pipes facing the road.
The Director of Enforcement, Kayode Bello, ordered that one of
the generators be tested, and it was discovered that it gave
off thick gaseous emissions.
Bello said, “Even the sound is going to be more than 45
decibels at night. We want you to comply ─ that is the reason
we are here. We have been on this for more than a year.”
The doors and gates of the hotel were subsequently chained,
and plastered with the LASEPA seal.
Later at a press briefing in Ikeja, LASEPA General Manager,
Rasheed Shabi said, “The environment belongs to every one of
us. Lagosians need to live in peace. A survey was carried out
by an international organisation and it was discovered that 60
per cent of Nigerians have hearing problem.
“LASEPA, in the last two to three years, has been conducting
surveys on religious houses, and our findings revealed that 95
per cent of them do not have approval to operate in Lagos.
“Most houses and club houses do not have fiscal planning
approval. Before you can build any hotel anywhere in the
world, there must be an environmental impact assessment.
“Most of the markets we have in Lagos State; we have people
using trucks to sell their products with speakers to disturb the
peace of Lagosians. Soon, we will tow as many trucks as
possible to get them off the streets.”
Shabi said the owner of the places sealed would sign an
undertaking that they would comply with instructions meant to
clean up the environment.
“After today, the enforcement unit will go round. Anybody that
breaks the seal has violated the Lagos State law. We will then
involve the Ministry of Justice,” Shabi added.