16/09/2025
Niger Governor Bago Insists Preachers Must Submit Sermons for Approval
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has defended his administration’s regulation mandating preachers to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them.
Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, he said the move was to prevent messages that could incite unrest or undermine government authority.
“I didn’t ban evangelism… 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 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,” Bago said.
On whether the move was linked to indoctrination, he added:
“It’s in that direction. 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.”
Director General of Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, confirmed preachers must obtain a licence within two months.
“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,” he said.
Reactions have been divided. Chief Imam of FUT Minna, Bashir Yankuzo, said:
“My opinion is that preaching is a command… the government cannot dictate who to preach to and who not to preach. But… if there are people who are going out of their way to cause security threats, using abusive words and so on, then government can have control.”
Niger CAN secretary, Raphael Opawoye, said the body had not been officially informed: “The Christian Association of Nigeria is not aware of the ban. We shall come up with a statement when we are officially informed.”
But Islamic scholar Uthman Siraja strongly opposed the policy.
“The ban on preaching is an infringement of freedom of worship and religion. The best thing for the government to do is to invite and penalise any preacher who incites the public in the cause of his preaching,” he said.
