By Chimdiogo Amuh 

The Anambra State Government has cautioned churches operating close to schools to desist from activities that generate excessive noise capable of disrupting academic work.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, issued the warning on Wednesday following a complaint of noise pollution affecting a private school in Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub.

The warning came after the ministry received a petition from the proprietress of the school, Lady Ngozi Udeh, against Divine Dominion Prophetic Ministry, Onitsha, which is located directly opposite the school premises.

According to the petition, the church, which built its auditorium in 2024, has recently intensified its activities, producing excessive noise, especially on Tuesdays when services reportedly run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The petitioner said the noise has persistently distracted students and teachers, severely affecting teaching and learning during official school hours, despite several verbal appeals to the church leadership.

Addressing both parties, Prof. Chuma-Udeh stressed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would not tolerate actions that infringe on students’ constitutional right to learn in a peaceful and conducive environment.

She noted that noise pollution is an offence under Nigerian law and is punishable once established, urging religious institutions to ensure that noise from their premises is properly contained, particularly where schools are within hearing distance.

The commissioner further observed that the school existed before the church moved into the area and called on the church to adopt peaceful coexistence, which she described as a core Christian value.

She directed the church to reschedule its weekday activities to begin from 4:00 p.m., after school hours, warning that failure to comply would lead to the involvement of the Ministry of Environment and possible legal action.

Prof. Chuma-Udeh added that while churches may hold activities from morning till evening on Saturdays and Sundays, external examinations such as WAEC, NECO and JAMB must take priority, even on Saturdays.

In his response, the Assistant Pastor of Divine Dominion Prophetic Ministry, Emmanuel Ukpabi, assured that the church would explore ways to coexist peacefully with the school and maintain mutual respect.