In Minna, the pulpit is now under a new kind of oversight. Governor Umar Bago has announced that religious preachers in Niger State must now submit their sermons for state approval before delivering them to their congregations. What seemed like a normal Sunday announcement has stirred uneasy murmurs among clergy, congregants, and civil rights watchers.
The Niger State Government has introduced a controversial new policy mandating religious preachers to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them to their congregations.
Governor Umar Bago announced the directive while speaking on TVC Politics on Sunday, stressing that the move was aimed at curbing messages capable of inciting unrest or undermining public peace.
Bago explained that the policy was not an attempt to stop evangelism or Islamic preaching but to ensure that sermons align with the state’s security and social stability agenda. “For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done,” the governor stated.
According to him, the move is aimed at curbing harmful and inciting messages against the people or the government.
“We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach the gospel that is anti-people, anti-government, and you think it’s normal,” he said.
Governor Bago disclosed that security agencies will collaborate with the state government to monitor the content of sermons.
“We want to be able to see what they are preaching, hear what they are saying. We are working together with security agencies; the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military,” he added.
Details of the Policy
* All sermons must be submitted to a panel for review before being delivered.
* Within the next two months, preachers will be required to obtain licences before publicly preaching.
* Security agencies, including the DSS, Police, NSCDC and the military, are expected to work with the government to enforce compliance.
* Interested preachers must fill out forms and undergo a screening process before being granted approval.
Reactions
The Chief Imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Bashir Yankuzo, cautioned that while government oversight may be necessary to prevent inflammatory preaching, the state must not overstep into restricting freedom of worship.
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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State said it was yet to receive formal communication about the new directive and would issue a response once officially notified.
However, critics have raised concerns that the policy could be misused to stifle dissenting voices and infringe on constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression.
What Next?
The state government has yet to release detailed guidelines on how the approval process will be implemented. Stakeholders are now watching closely to see how the policy will be enforced and whether it will trigger legal or religious pushback in the coming weeks.
