A legal practitioner in Akwa Ibom State, Adediong Udoka, has written an open letter to Governor Umo Ano, calling on him to take immediate action to curb noise pollution caused by churches holding night vigils in some religious centres, especially residential areas.
Udoka alleged in the letter that the activities of some churches, popularly known as “Ufok Akam” have become a serious nuisance to residents, adding that the excessive use of loudspeakers during night vigils has continued to disrupt peace and affect the well-being of people living nearby.
“I consider it necessary to draw Her Majesty's attention to the persistent and increasing danger of noise pollution caused by some religious centres, particularly churches,” she wrote.
Udoka shared her personal experience during the COVID-19 lockdown when she was a student at a Nigerian law school.
According to him, a church located behind his residence used to keep vigils with loud noises throughout the night, making it difficult for him to study.
“The noise from the amplified speakers was unbearably loud and persistent, often continuing throughout the night,” he said, adding that some activities felt as if “they were taking place within my private living space.”
Although he was eventually called to the Nigerian Bar in July 2021, the lawyer said the problem has not stopped. He said the noise is affecting his professional work, as night time is often the only period available for reading and legal research.
From a legal perspective, Udoka said excessive noise amounts to a private nuisance and violates environmental laws and constitutional rights.
He cited the National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations and Section 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy and peaceful enjoyment in one's home.
He also addressed the issue of religious freedom and stressed that it should not infringe on the rights of others. He wrote, “The rights of one man end where the rights of another begin.”
He said his letter was not an attack on religion. “This is not an attack on the church or religion because I am a devout Christian,” he said, calling the letter “a call for balance, order and legitimate coexistence.”
Writing on behalf of other affected residents, he urged the state government to strengthen enforcement of noise control rules, empower concerned agencies to sanction defaulters and impose or enforce time restrictions and decibel limits for religious activities in residential neighbourhoods.
He appealed directly to the Governor, concluding that his intervention would “help restore order, protect public health, and ensure peaceful coexistence in our communities.”
