Edidiong Udoaka, a legal practitioner in Akwa Ibom State, has written an open letter to Governor Umo Eno, calling for urgent action to curb noise pollution, caused by some religious centres, especially churches that hold night vigils in residential areas.
Udoaka, in the letter, alleged that activities of some churches, popularly known as “ufok akam”, have become a serious nuisance to residents, explaining that excessive use of loudspeakers during night vigils has continued to disrupt peace and affect the wellbeing of people living nearby.
“I deem it necessary to draw Your Excellency’s attention to the persistent and growing menace of noise pollution caused by some religious centres, particularly churches,” she wrote.
Udoaka shared her personal experience during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she was a student at the Nigerian Law School.
According to her, a church located behind her residence held frequent all-night vigils with amplified sound that made it difficult for her to study.
“The noise from amplified speakers was unbearably loud and persistent, often lasting through the night,” she said, adding that some activities made it feel “as though they were occurring within my personal living space.”
Although she was eventually called to the Nigerian Bar in July 2021, the lawyer noted that the problem has not stopped. She said the noise continues to affect her professional work, as night-time is often the only period available for reading and legal research.
From a legal standpoint, Udoaka stated that excessive noise amounts to private nuisance and violates environmental laws and constitutional rights.
She cited the National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations and Section 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy and peaceful enjoyment of one’s home.
She also addressed the issue of religious freedom, stressing that it should not infringe on the rights of others. “One person’s right ends where another’s right begins,” she wrote.
She said her letter was not an attack on religion. “This is not an attack on the Church or religion as I am a devoted Christian,” she said, describing the letter as “a call for balance, order, and lawful coexistence.”
Writing on behalf of other affected residents, she urged the State Government to strengthen enforcement of noise control regulations, empower relevant agencies to sanction defaulters, and introduce or enforce time restrictions and decibel limits for religious activities in residential neighbourhoods.
She concluded by appealing directly to the governor, saying his intervention would help “restore order, protect public health, and ensure peaceful coexistence in our communities.”
