The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reportedly unveiled a new policy that would require generator owners in Abuja to pay fees over noise pollution, sparking concern among residents and business owners across the city.
A notice recently spotted at a business premises in Zone 11 of the FCT suggests that the administration plans to regulate noise levels generated by private power generators, which have become a common fixture due to unreliable electricity supply.
The development has drawn mixed reactions, with many residents arguing that generators are not a luxury but a necessity in Abuja.
“In Abuja, we rely on generators because there is no guarantee of stable power. Penalising us for that feels unfair,” said Chinedu Okafor, a small business owner operating in the city centre.
Critics of the proposed policy fear it could place an additional financial burden on individuals and small businesses already struggling with high operating costs.
They also argue that the policy appears to target generator users without addressing the root cause, inconsistent public power supply.
So far, the FCTA has not released details on how the noise pollution fees would be assessed or enforced, leaving residents uncertain about how the policy might affect them if fully implemented.
Environmental advocates, however, note that noise pollution is a legitimate public health issue.
They stress that any regulatory framework should balance environmental concerns with the reality that many residents depend on generators for daily living and business operations.
Some Abuja residents are calling on the government to consider alternative approaches, such as incentives for cleaner and quieter energy solutions, before enforcing any penalties related to generator use.
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