A recent pronouncement by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, banning open-air preaching in markets and public spaces has stirred intense debate across religious and social circles in Nigeria.
In a bold directive aimed at curbing noise pollution and maintaining public order, the governor stated, “This is a marketplace, not a church. You are violating the law. You cannot take over a public space and turn it into a church; otherwise, you will be charged for using this space.”
He further warned that violators would pay a fine of N500,000, adding that the use of loudspeakers in markets had been banned due to their detrimental effect on people’s hearing. “You cannot force people to listen to your preaching. We are cracking down on fake pastors and prophets in Anambra,” the governor declared.
The move, however, has sparked criticism, especially from religious leaders who believe the ban infringes on constitutional rights to religious expression.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Archbishop Osazee Williams, International Secretary of the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles, and Senior Clergy in London, described the directive as “an attack on the body of Christ.”
He said, “The attack on the body of Christ has come in various forms, and this is just one of them. I don’t believe the governor fears God. There are people who need to hear the word of God, and for many, the only place they can do so is in the market or on the streets.”
Archbishop Williams also emphasized the transformative power of public preaching, stating that it has helped change the lives of people involved in crime or other vices. “Some people come to the market to steal, to kill, or engage in other vices, but when they hear the word of God, they change their ways,” he added.
Similarly, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria in Lagos, Most Rev. Isaac Olawuyi, criticized the policy as “an affront to Christian freedom” and urged Christian leaders to resist the move. He argued that while some abuses by self-proclaimed pastors may exist, it does not justify a blanket restriction.
“The governor should have consulted with Christian stakeholders in the state or put mechanisms in place to checkmate fake clerics, not limit Christian freedom. We have the mandate to preach the gospel anywhere, provided it does not incite violence or disrupt public peace,” Olawuyi said.
He further challenged the notion that the ban was merely against “loud preaching,” accusing the governor of playing with semantics and warning that such moves could set a dangerous precedent.
“If they should go out for true evangelism and hold crusades, let the governor go ahead and arrest all of them. Let’s see what will happen,” he said.
On social media, reactions have been equally polarized. A Facebook user, Abbaty Ibn Muhammad Zakir, questioned the fairness of the ban: “If loudspeakers in markets cause noise pollution, what about political rallies, traditional festivals, and other public events that use them? Why single out religious preaching?”
Another user, Arthur Uneze, wrote, “If a government decides to ban preaching in markets to maintain order, then the same principle should apply to politicians who turn these same spaces into rally grounds during campaigns.”
As the controversy continues to unfold, many are calling on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to engage the Anambra State Government in dialogue to seek a balanced resolution.
While the governor’s move has garnered support from those advocating for reduced public noise and better regulation of religious activities, critics maintain that any such effort must not infringe on constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.
