MAURICE OKAFOR writes that the saying’ One man’s meat can be another man poison’ is currently what is obtainable with ‘Tonsand hotel and Suites, Amorji Nike, in Enugu East local government area of Enugu state. In as much as the hotel provides comfort and relaxation spot for lots of people living in the area especially young men who enjoy clubbing at night, some other residents of the area are also raising their heads in pain, saying that the hotel constitutes a pain in their neck with high musical vibrations that emanates from the hotel, even at late nights.
AUTHORITY South East post gathered that the claims of huge noise from the hotel informed the reason why the Enugu state Ministry of Environment and Mineral resources [MOEMR] sued the hotel’s management.
The head of legal department, Enugu state Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Barr Casmir Obetta confirmed that his ministry sued the hotel based on complaints lodged against the hotel by some residents of the area.
In addition, the ministry conducted its own primary investigation and found the hotel culpable of the allegation before taking them to court, Barr. Obetta said.
His words: ‘’ National Environmental Health practice regulations 2016 makes it compulsory in section 84 that no person should play music that exceeds 80 decibels. So if music is played above 80 decibels, it is certified that it can be injurious to Public health. Therefore Section 85 of the same regulation provides penalty for contravening of Section 84’.
The suit with No EPC/E/1C/20,; MOEMR vs Tonsand Hotels and suites Amorji Nike, was brought before an Enugu Environmental Court presided over by Magistrate Henry Asogwa on Wednesday, January 22 this year, the same court sat over the matter on February 5,during which the traditional ruler of Amorji Nike, Dr Titus Okolo sought permission from the court to wield into the matter, since both the hotel and aggrieved residences all reside in his community, Amorji Nike.
Based on the plea of Igwe Dr Titus Okolo, the court shifted next hearing on the suit to February 19,during which Igwe Okolo will brief the court whether he succeeded in resolving the hotel management with the aggrieved residences, consequent upon the court will determine whether to continue or discontinue with the suit.
Magistrate Henry Asogwa presiding over the suit was unavoidably absent in court on February 19,but Barr. Obetta disclosed to that the matter will resume this Wednesday, March 18, at the usual Environmental Court, beside the Old state secretariat buildings, Enugu.
In a chat with one of the hotel managers who identified himself as Mr David, he said the hotel management has since last year installed sound proofs in the club’s hall which reduced the noise emanating from it to the barest minimum, in as much as events of club’s hall at nights have completely be halted at the moment.
He said that the only musical event obtained in the hotel at the moment is a life band performance which comes up once or twice in a week and does not extend into late nights, against claims by some of the residents.
Mr David disclosed that the hotel’s proprietor from abinitio acquired the land with an authorization to build the hotel. He debunked allegations that the plots of land on which the hotel situates was meant for building a residential house, but the owner unjustly converted the plots into a hotel outfit, to the detriment of the health of some other residents.
