Umar Bago, governor of Niger, says preachers in the state must submit their sermons for review.
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s ‘Politics on Sunday’, Bago said the government never placed a ban on evangelism in the state.
Recently, the Niger state government banned unlicensed religious preaching across the state and directed that anyone who wishes to preach must first obtain official authorisation.
Umar Farooq, the director-general of the Niger State Religious Affairs Department, said preachers have a two-month window to secure the licence.
During the interview, the Niger governor was asked if he banned evangelism as part of the fight against insecurity.
Bago said preachers were only asked to submit their sermons before preaching every Friday.
He added that the state government wants to know what the preachers would be saying to avoid “anti-people and anti-government” sentiments.
“I didn’t ban evangelism. The religious affairs said for anybody going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review,” he said.
“It’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, it is done like that. We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach some gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it’s normal.
“We want to be able to see what they are preaching, and hear what they are saying.”
This is not the first time the Niger state government would be making pronouncements of this nature.
In August, Bago ordered the commissioner of police to seal off Badeggi FM radio station over alleged incitement.
In April, the governor ordered the arrest of Minna residents with dreadlocks and directed that their hair be trimmed.
He had claimed that the decision was part of a broader effort to curb crime and social vices. The order had elicited a backlash.
