Night Clubbing Of Nuisance, Dangers - Lagos Will Never Carry Last When It Comes To Party

Lagos State does not lag behind when it comes to grandiose shows. Some people would even prefer to drum home this fact by using the slogan, ‘Eko for show’, a catchphrase for Lagos’ high-flying status. The slogan was also adopted for the state’s 2012 carnival.

This love for spectacle is noticeable in the merriment which club houses in the state dish out from time to time. The state government once said residents of the state spend over N1bn on parties and entertainment every month.

Every week, there is usually a place for fun seekers to hang out in various parts of the metropolis. In fact, there are now night clubs in some residential areas. It is not unusual these days to see fun spots springing up where residential buildings were once erected. From Ikeja, Surulere, Oshodi, Akowonjo, Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba, Ogba to Ikorodu and other areas in the state, Friday is usually a special day.

On this day, music blares from every nook and cranny till dawn. The fun, which starts midweek in some parts, reaches a crescendo on Friday. Some singers, especially those in the hip hop and juju genres, have even made special releases on the importance of Friday in the start of a weekend of merry-making.

As it rocks in Lagos,  the same happens in Port Harcourt, Abuja and other notable cities in the country. Drinks of all types usually accompany the entertainment. A recent data has shown Nigeria as one of the leading countries with high champagne consumption.

A dispatch rider, Henry Smith, who was sighted at a night club in Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State, said siting relaxation centres within residential areas have some merits and demerits.

He said apart from noise pollution and security threat which they could pose to such areas, they provide on-the-move relaxation to residents.

Smith further said the level of noise from worship centres could sometimes be more than what emanates from night clubs.

He said, ‘‘These club houses pay all manner of taxes to local governments in their domains. They employ security men to ensure orderliness. Some people even feel safe when they get to a place and see a night club there. The people trooping into the club and the noise coming out from there often light up the environment.  Nigeria is a place where people work hard to survive.  You can imagine what the situation will be if there are no places to unwind.’’

He added that fun spots could attract people of questionable characters into a neighbourhood thereby endangering the safety of occupants.

A worker with an international courier company, Mr. Rotimi Oyeneyin, described night clubs as venues for extreme fun seekers to unwind.

He said even though there was nothing bad in hanging out in a club after a hard day’s job, it could be extreme when one stayed throughout the night.

Oyeneyin added that night clubs could encourage alcoholism and sexual recklessness.

‘‘At night clubs, one can socialise and get useful business connections. On the negative, they can promote extreme indulgence in alcoholism and sexual escapades. There is a tendency for one to consume more alcoholic drinks than required. Commercial sex workers also loiter around such places. Someone who lacks self control may be tempted to want to have a feel of anyone of them,’’ he said.

He also said besides the huge noise pollution from night clubs, there had been cases of auto crashes arising from drunkenness of people coming from such places.

Oyeneyin said, ‘‘But one cannot rule out the fact that night clubs are best places to relax after working so hard. Apart from relaxing, one can meet individuals who can lead one to meaningful business deals.’’

A banker, who lives on Jonathan Coker Street, New Oko-Oba, Lagos, Mr. Princewill George, expressed displeasure over the building of night clubs within residential areas.

According to him, such club houses only harbour criminals whose activities make residents uncomfortable.

George said, ‘‘I know what I experience every night with the noise pollution from night clubs in my area. On weekends, males and females besiege the clubs to enjoy. Cars are often parked haphazardly on the road, with music playing at a deafening level.’’

Also, a resident in Oke-Ira, Ogba, whose house is near a night club, Mr. Alphonsus Edward, said he hardly sleeps every Friday. He stated that he struggles to cope with a noise from the speakers of the club and that of a record seller few metres away from his house.

Edward, ‘‘I know that listening to music is one of the ways customers in the club enjoy themselves. But I do not think it is necessary for the music to filter to those who are outside the club. I wonder how those inside the club enjoy the noise because it even disturbs those outside.’’

Some social critics have noted that besides the noise from music, club houses also make a noise through screams and shouts of customers outside the premises, including car hooting and revving of engines.

They further observed that customers could disturb the peace of the neighbourhood after excess intake of alcohol.

Online sources indicated that in some countries, people living where night clubs are located often petition relevant authorities to alter their cities’ land use regulations to bar night clubs and businesses from operating within residential locations. Residents of Johannesburg, South  Africa  have made such petition.

However, a juju singer who also performs in selected hotels and night clubs, Yinka Best, said night life was dying in the state.

The artiste, who spoke with our correspondent from London, added that nowadays people no longer engage in night crawling. He added, ‘‘Night life is no longer like it used to be in Lagos. Night clubbing is dying.’’

A manager with a bar in  Alagomeji, Sabo Yaba, who refused to give his name, described night clubs as fun seekers  haven.

He said life would be boring without the clubs in a country like Nigeria.

In his view, President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, Mr. Moses Ogunleye, said though there were laws guiding the location of such facilities, club houses could not be sited in the periphery of a town.

He said, ‘‘Whether it is a shop or club, it is established to serve the populace. Hence, it would not be sited outside a city or town but within the settlement.’’

Stating that night clubs were not expected to constitute a nuisance within the neighbourhoods of their locations, Ogunleye added they were not protected from laws guiding location of structure.

According to him, many of the club houses do not have planning permits and that is why patrons sometimes convert residential buildings to relaxation centres unhindered.

He also said many of the clubs lack adequate parking spaces for their customers.

Ogunleye said, ‘‘Noise can also come from the facilities of club houses. But they are not the only one that can constitute a nuisance. Churches and schools within a neighbourhood can also be a nuisance depending on their operation. Bigger hotels have casinos and club house and regulate their operations. ’’

Speaking on the issue, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said there was no law prohibiting night club operations in the state.

Ngozi, who said the police was yet to receive any complaint of noise-making of club houses from any quarters, added that most of the club houses have soundproof to prevent disturbing their neighbours.

Besides, she stated that the police could move into any place anytime including club houses in the course of policing for effective security. ‘‘We are not restricted to move anywhere when carrying out our job. If we notice any untoward acts in a place including club houses, we will not hesitate to go into such places,’’ she stated