Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has stated that security agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, Civil Defence, and the military will assist in enforcing the new law requiring preachers to submit their sermons for approval.
Bago, who spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, defended the measure as a necessary step to check inciting messages that could endanger peace and security.
“I didn’t ban evangelism. For anybody going to sermon on a Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal.
“Even in Saudi Arabia, it’s done like that. 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.
The governor explained that the initiative was aimed at preventing indoctrination and would be enforced with the support of security operatives.
When asked if it was out of fear of indoctrination, he said, “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 Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military.”
Earlier this month, the Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, announced that the government had mandated all preachers in the state to obtain licences within two months.
According to him, clerics are expected to fill forms, face a screening panel, and be certified before they can preach publicly.