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Nigeria's largest city Lagos declared car "Horn-Free Day" last week in attempt to raise awareness of noise pollution. People are constantly bombarded with endless cacophony of screeches, sirens and high-pitched honking from impatient motorists. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola told reporters that extent of noise from car horns was now serious enough to be danger to people's hearing. Talking about Horn-Free Day, he told reporters: "It is for our own good. It is for our own health. It is for our own life." World Health Organization said high-decibel noise pollution was critical health hazard that increases risk of cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure.

Governor Fashola hoped his city's roads would be little quieter. He contrasted constant honking in Lagos to relative quiet of European roads. He said he recently spent ten days in Europe and, "did not hear sound of horn while driving". He asked: "Can you imagine that we can drive in Lagos without horns?" However, Lagos blogger defended use of horn as part of city's culture. He said: "Honking is beautiful trend in this part of world, and it is trend that every class of people in country embraces." Apart from making other drivers aware of danger, he said people honk to greet friends and celebrate weddings and other happy occasions.