Malik Yahya/
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has said security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), will help enforce the state’s new directive requiring preachers to submit their sermons for approval.
Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Bago explained that the policy is not a ban on evangelism but a safeguard against incitement and extremist preaching.
“For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done. We cannot say because you are a cleric, you will go out and preach the gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it’s normal,” the governor said.
He stressed that the state would work closely with the DSS, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military to monitor compliance.
“We want to be able to see what they are preaching, hear what they are saying. We are working together with security agencies; the DSS, the Police, NSCDC and the military,” he added.
The move, first made public earlier this month, has stirred controversy.
The Director General of Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, announced that anyone wishing to preach must obtain a licence within two months. Applicants are expected to fill out forms and face a screening panel before approval.
Reactions have been mixed. The Chief Imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Bashir Yankuzo, said while the government has a duty to prevent sermons that threaten security, dictating who preaches infringes on divine mandates.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger said it had not been officially informed of the policy, while Islamic scholar Uthman Siraja described it as a violation of religious freedom.
Despite criticism, the government has maintained that the regulation is necessary to curb hate preaching and preserve peace in the state.
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