LESSON FROM JAPAN SERIES TWO: “QUIET TOWN CAMPAIGN’’- Is Nigeria a noise factory?

Is Nigeria a noise factory?

‘’In the beginning God created the Universe then created the Moon, the Stars and the wild beast of the forest. On the Sixth day he created the Nigerian and there was peace. But on the Seventh day while God rested the Nigeria invented Noise.’’

The above expression was used by Enahoro in his book ‘’How to be a Nigerian’’ in 1996. Seventeen years after this publication we are yet to find solution to the persistent noise level in many of our community. Several studies and measurement around many communities in Nigeria show an alarming situation. Adeola et al 2009 described the situation of Lagos as ‘’Living in the centre of Lagos is akin to spending all day in a factory. Noise levels can reach 90 decibels by 07.30 am and never drop below 70 decibels. The noise level around most communities in Lagos according to the continuous monitoring program of the Ministry of the Environment is between 45 to 100 decibels.  

Lagos is not the only culprit, study carried out by Ochuko (2013) reported that Abuja city ranged from 73.2 to 83.6dBA (day time), 44 to 56.6dBA (night time). Anomohanran et al 2008 informed that noise level in Abraka, Delta State can reach 100dBA. According to Onuua and Menkiti (1993) noise level in Aba and Uyo can range between 86 to 106 dBA , while noise level in Ilorin can be between 87.8 to 110.2 dBA (Oyedepo and Saadu,2009)

A clear look at above statistics shows that community noise around most towns and cities in Nigeria show a clear danger as per noise level. Are we not concern about this trend?. Before writing this article I have to do search of relevant literature. To my surprise, many studies had been carried out and many suggestions and recommendations put forward by several authors. The question here is. Are the studies only for academic publication or to foster our development?   

Environmental noise exposure standards and legislation are normally devised by national or local authorities to provide an acceptable noise environment for their specific conditions. The  standard guideline for the control of noise states that  residential institutional and educational institutions should not be over 55dBA between 7am and 11pm  and 45dBA between 11pm till 7am, while industrial  and commercial exposure should not be over 70dBA  all time (IFC,2007). However, according to World Health Organization Community Noise Guideline (1995): noise levels outside dwellings should not exceed 55dB (A) to protect the majority of people from being seriously annoyed, and that 50dB (A) should be considered the maximum desirable.

A clear look at most reading obtained around towns and cities in Nigeria. The above recommended values cannot be achieved if we allow business as usual. The present situation is currently having a toll on the citizens. In a study carried out by Adeleke in 2007, the statistical analyses of responses on noise effects showed significant impacts on the health of Lagos residents (P < 0.05). A total of 5,425 residents were diagnosed for ear problems at LUTH between January 2000 and December 2005. The highest magnitude of ear problems reported was 906 (17%) between 2000 and December 2005 at Idumota while VGC recorded the lowest number of 39 (0.74%) during the same period. Can we continue like this until it becomes an epidemic like the cholera case?

Like Nigeria, most cities in Japan have had their own shear of problem related to noise. In 1958, Osaka city carried out a study. The study revealed that 78% of the citizens were in favour of the establishment of ordinances (law) to control noise. Rather than presenting a law, The Osaka City presented the Citizens Movement rather than ordinance. The City developed the “Quiet Town Campaign Promotion’’. The city opts for individual action from citizens rather than putting up a law to regulate the noise problem. Citizen’s group, Administrations, Car user’s group, Industry, children, etc were involved in the ‘’Quit Town Campaign Promotion’’. The people championed campaigned worked and gain success. The success of the campaign caught the attention of every city, and the campaign spread nationally. The campaign also obtained overseas attention, and The Mayor of Osaka was presented with an award from The National Noise Abatement Council in the US.

Today, the campaign that started in 1958 has become a norm and culture. A joke I normally shear with my Japanese coordinator is that our city is lively and there city is like a ghost town. Her response always is that it’s our culture.  After spending weeks and trying to study the situation, I found out that I was wrong. We are the dead one and they are actually living. Average Japanese citizen is always occupied with one thing or the other. It is surprising to hear that while in the train, the noise comes from the discussion from my friends and me (mostly Africans). Our host are either reading books, magazine or get occupied with one activities or the other. I have spent almost two months, no Japanese citizen have asked us to stop disturbing in public place. This is a rear situation. Unlike my people, an angry or frustrated Nigeria will shout at you thus adding to the noise level.

Also of note is the fact that their bicycle and vehicle hardly use horn. They will patiently allow you to pass rather than informing you with the horn that will disturb other passer-by. This is strange from my normal life where an average Nigeria fells the use of the vehicle horn is a mode of communication. Sometime, Nigerian uses the vehicle horn to communicate across the street.   

My question now is can the citizen approach work in Nigeria? . I don’t want to believe that an average Nigerian needs a situation like the Idiagbon era for us to comply with basic norm.  Nigerians are regarded has one of the most intelligent in the world. If so let start our own Quit City Campaign. God bless Nigeria.