Fine, Jail Time; the New Penalty for Noise Making In Public, NESREA Says

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has said that it would begin to punish noise making in public by individuals, groups, organizations or businesses with appropriate measures including fine, jail time, or both. NESREA’s Coordinator in Osun, Olanrewaju Anjorin made it known that the NESREA has the authority to regulate public noise, citing a 2009 gazette that gives the agency the power. Part of the regulation states, “…permissible noise levels, noise in excess of permissible levels, duty to control noise by place and time and noise control zones.” Anjorin said, “noise-making is just one of the numerous environmental conditions which are considered as public disturbance and therefore, the agency has zero tolerance for it. The agency may seize, impound, confiscate or prohibit the use of any property which is likely to, or has caused the emission of excessive noise if it will restore the permissible noise level in the area. The owner of any item seized, impounded or confiscated under these regulations shall be responsible for the costs incurred.” He continued, “Any person who contravenes any requirement or condition of a permit commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine of five thousand naira for every day the offence subsists. On conviction, the person may be liable to a fine not exceeding N50, 000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.” “Where an offence is committed by a body corporate, it shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N500, 000 and additional fine of N10, 000 for every day the offence subsists.”