Provide soundproof, no-smoke signals in hospitality establishments – LASEPA
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Thursday warned hospitality operators to desist from encouraging noise pollution in hotels, clubs, restaurants and all.
Its General Management, Dr Tunde Ajayi gave the warning during a stakeholders’ engagement with the hospitality sector, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The theme for the programme was “Addressing Current Industry Challenges, Exploring Emerging Trends, Understanding Policy Framework and Unveiling Collaborative Opportunities Within the Entre Hospitality Value Chain”.
Ajayi advised hospitality operators across the state to put in place soundproof in any hospitality facility where music was put to use, to guide against noise pollution.
He said the essence of the soundproof was to ensure noise does not filter out to disturb individuals around the facility.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect the environment, a healthy environment is necessary to the growth of hospitality businesses.
“Noise is a menace, people develop ear problems due to exposure to noise but people don’t know.
“We have 55 per cent permissible noise alert for residential areas in the day and 45 per cent at night. We have same for the hospitality facilities.
“We want an environment without noise, soundproof your environment. Also, we have always advised that no smoke signals are used in hospitality firms.
“It can be embarrassing to expose visitors at hospitality facilities to cigarette, rendering them as secondary smoker, it is dangerous to their health
“You also need to ensure a place is usually created for emission of generating set smoke. We all need to encourage a healthy environment,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Lanre Mojola, General Manager, Lagos State Safety Commission emphasised that safety remained key in the hospitality industry, saying “players must build a system and facility that is absolutely safe”.
He called on operators to take leadership and be committed to safety of tourists to foster zero accident, injury and fatalities.
“There must be system in place to take away all risk. All facility must be safety complaint and this begin with each one of us. Safety is a collective thing and all of us must put on cap of safety,” Mojola said.
For Olabisi Adelabu, General Manager, Lagos State Parking Authority hotels and restaurants must have adequate parking space in their facilities.
Stressing the need for all practitioners to be responsible in all things park-related, Adelabu said that the authority was not out to disrupt tourism business but to ensure businesses do not infringe on rights of others.
Mr Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transport, who related vibrant hospitality industry to efficient transport systems, said that operators must adhere to all transport and parking rules and regulations.
“There is no way you can have a vibrant tourism business without transportation,” he said
He urged operators to be committed to the provision of adequate parking space and training of their parking officers.
Earlier, Mr Solomon Bonu, Chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture who commended the efforts of the private operators in the hospitality industry urged them to channel their energy toward enacting laws that would spur the growth of the industry.
Mr Ayodele Subair, Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) hinted on the state’s plan to harmonise taxes and levies for ease of payment for hospitality operators.
“Payment of taxes and levies should not be seen as a burden, these are necessary to put in place the needed infrastructure development and qualitative social services,” he said.
Mr Samuel Alabi, a lawyer, harped on the need for the Lagos State government to harmonise all taxes
Responding, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture said “I want you all to know that the ministry will continue to engage you, even in major decision formulation.
“The essence of this engagement session is to ensure Lagos continues to takes its pride of place as a choice destination for tourists,” she said.
