The Oyo state government has asked owners of religious houses using external speakers to remove such speakers within the next two weeks or be sanctioned.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Isaac Ishola, who, on Tuesday made this known on behalf of the state government in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the order is to reduce wanton noise pollution emanating from mosques, churches, disc jockeys, aside from that of telecommunication companies, generating sets and vehicular hooting.
Ishola who spoke alongside Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun and Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka who also mentioned disc jockeys and gyms who exceed stated decibels of sound production, revealed that after the next fourteen days, those found guilty of noise pollution will have their religious houses or structures sealed and the owners will sign an undertaking before such houses are reopened.
Talking about religious buildings, he decried non-adherence of some religious institutions to reducing noise from their vigils and calls to prayer, while failing to acquire acoustic furniture, internal speakers and having padded walls.