ODSG GOES TOUGH ON NOISE POLLUTION, DIRECTS POLITICAL PARTIES TO OBTAIN PERMIT DURING CAMPAIGNS

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As part of deliberate efforts to control the effects of noise pollution on the environment during the forthcoming political campaigns, Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency, OSEPA has directed all political parties to obtain permit from the agency.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Oyeni Oseni gave the directive at the end of an interactive session with political parties’ representatives in his office in Akure.

The parley was called to introduce the agency to political parties as vehicles to reach out to politicians, educate them about the essence of the Agency and secure their buying – in in its efforts at controlling noise pollution and other environmental issues like use plastics, handbills and posters that are associated with electioneering.

The Special Adviser said the law that established OSEPA and regulates various humans activities that impacted on the environment noise pollution and penalities for any infraction inclusive has been in existence since 1993.

He said the laws were not just promulgated to target any
body but for the good of the society.

“You all know the impact huge noise has on people especially on their health. Unfortunately, many do not know this and they are dying in silence. Some people are sick and uncontrolled and unmitigated noise can trigger more harm to their health conditions”, he explained.

According to the OSEPA Chairman, “since it is obvious we can’t stop political parties from campaigning, the agency holds it a duty to regulate the level of noise during the campaigns for the next four months”.

He said one of the essence of the meeting is to agree on what to be paid per candidate or political party as each of them is expected to fill in candidates for all the 26 members for the State House of Assembly, 9 House of Representatives, 3 Senators, Deputy Governor and Governor to be declared vacant after the end of their tenure next year.

Speaking earlier the Permanent Secretary of the Agency, Princess Korede Giwa said OSEPA is poised to ensure there is orderliness in the conduct of politicians during the forthcoming campaign especially as it relates to noise and other forms of pollution associated with the electioneering.

She said that in line with the directive of the Special Adviser, no fewer than 12 of the active Political Parties in the State were invited for the meeting but regreatably only three were present. These are All Progressives Congress APC, The Labour and Action Alliance.

The high point of the meeting was the decision all the Political Parties that were present agreed on the need to control noise pollution and other forms of pollution during campaign and obtaining permit before the commencement of electioneering.