Noise by standard definition is a loud and unpleasant sound, especially when it is confused and undesired. Noise pollution is as old as the society itself and has actually constituted serious health hazards to people the world over. Here in Rivers State and Port Harcourt in particular, the State capital, the level of noise pollution has become worrisome and embarrassing. From Old Township to Ikwerre Road, Garrison to Rumuola, the story is the same. A situation where three to four record (CD) stations will be competing at the same time on who blares the loudest music leaves much to be desired. Rumuola, Rumuokoro and Garrison (Ogbunabali) are the most culpable. The question now is, are there no laws to check this menace? We are aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly(RSHA)under the speakership of Rt Hon Tonye Harry, the immediate past presiding officer of the state legislature passed a law against noise pollution, but to what extent has this all- important act been enforced or implemented? The big loudspeakers carried in commercial buses along Lagos-Ikwerre Road axis with its attendant horrible noise to the discomfort of the passengers has called for urgent attention. And of late, the commercial drivers along Ikwerre Road especially have started installing and displaying video CDs right in front of their vehicles while driving. What a distraction and safety hazard that can even consume the entire occupants of the vehicle in an avoidable accident, God forbid! That is a topic for another day to avoid total digression. The big question that is staring everybody on the face is, why have the authorities concerned allowed this situation to remain for so long unattended to. And worse still, at every bus stop along this axis police officers are usually seen extorting money from these lawless commercial drivers. Noise as we know and according to experts can lead to so many ailments, resulting to deaths, chief amongst them are loss of hearing, or permanent deafness ,discomfort and even psychological disorder. There are evidences that some people have gone mad completely as a result of noise pollution. Fatal accidents have also been recorded as a result of noise. The Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Environment had some time in the past tried to enforce the law against noise pollution in the State, but the move did not endure. This was short-lived and could not record any significant impact, one now wonders what the problem was or is. We are aware that government has all the required apparatus and capacity, including manpower to enforce all laws, but what it probably lacks is perhaps the political will.
It is on this premise that we call on the government and the appropriate authorities to wake up to their responsibilities in ensuring that noise pollution act and indeed all other laws are implemented for there is no reason to make laws if they cannot be enforced. Lack of political will which in most cases has been attributed to the reason for government’s failure to discharge its statutory responsibilities should be killed, as no reason whatsoever adduced for not curbing noise in our society could be accepted. Let government at all levels live up to expectations, for posterity will not forgive us if we fail.##
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