Niger Governor Orders Preachers to Submit Sermons for Approval

Niger State Governor Umar Bago has stated that all preachers in the state must submit their sermons for approval before delivering them.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Bago clarified that the directive is not a ban on evangelism but a measure to ensure sermons do not incite unrest or promote anti-government messages.

“For anyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done,” the governor said. “We cannot allow clerics to preach messages that are anti-people or anti-government and consider it normal.”

Bago added that the move aims to prevent indoctrination, stressing that the government is working with security agencies including the DSS, Police, NSCDC, and the military to monitor compliance.

Earlier, the Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, said preachers have two months to obtain licences and face a screening panel before they can preach.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State said it had not been formally informed of the directive and would respond once officially notified.

However, Islamic scholar Uthman Siraja criticized the measure, describing it as an infringement on freedom of worship and urging the government to focus on penalizing preachers who incite violence rather than imposing a blanket approval process.