The Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago-led Niger State government has directed clerics to obtain a licence before public preaching.
Umar Farooq, Director-General of the Niger State religious affairs, disclosed this in an interview with The Punch, adding that the government has also banned public preaching.
“It is true, the State Government has banned preaching. Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months,” Farooq told Punch.
As reported by The Cable on Friday, September 5, he said preachers are required to obtain forms from the agency, after which they will face a screening panel before being cleared to preach.
Outrage as Bago bans public preaching in Niger
Reacting to the directive, Bashir Yankuzo, the chief imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, stated that the government cannot stop preaching but can regulate it when security is threatened.
“The government cannot dictate who to preach to and who not to preach. But at the same time, if there are people who are going out of their way to cause security threats,” he said.
However, Raphael Opawoye, secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger state, said the group was not aware of the directive.
Soludo bans preaching in marketplaces
REPORTERS AT LARGE recalls that Anambra governor, Charles Soludo, banned loud preaching in markets, citing noise pollution and public disturbance.
Violators face a fine of N500,000 as part of the state’s efforts to enforce noise pollution regulations.
The governor warns against the misuse of public spaces and vows to crack down on fake pastors and prophets.
