From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Enugu State Government has threatened to clamp down on nightclubs, lounges and bars causing nuisance especially noise pollution in residential areas of Enugu metropolis.
Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), Chief Uche Anya, stated this at a town hall meeting with about 75 leisure spot owners.
He said that the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration was desirous of providing conducive environment for the leisure and entertainment business to thrive but warned that it would not be to the detriment of residents.
Agha who disclosed that his office had been inundated with over 200 petitions from neighbours of the leisure spots stated that those within residential places must embrace acoustic technology.
According to him, inasmuch as the government needed a bubbling nightlife in Enugu, it was not inclined to what he called a nightmarish experience.
He noted that prominent residents of Enugu metropolis including elder statesmen such the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga had complained that the activities of these spots were making life unbearable for them.
The ECTDA boss urged the fun centre operators to play by the rule warning that any facility closed down by the agency would be fined N5million before it will be reopened.
“I am going to do anything to have bubbling life in Enugu. We want a city that works but this city can’t work if your children can’t sleep, they can’t do their homework and those of them living in storey buildings would want to peep and see what is happening in those areas.
“Those things have altered our master plan and my mandate is to restore the master plan. In achieving this mandate, let everybody stick to what is in his approval paper. Let’s agree that there won’t be open air live band in residential areas. Let’s agree that those viewing centres where we have all manner of noise are not in residential areas. And we are going to do all these before December 15, so that our people returning for Christmas will have peaceful yuletide.
“So, if a place is totally residential and you find your business there, then, you will do 100 per cent acoustic technology and if you are in a place that is already commercial, then, you might not need acoustic,” he stated.