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A new directive by Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, requiring religious preachers to submit their sermons for government approval before delivering them has triggered widespread criticism and calls for its withdrawal.
Christian Youth Group Raises Alarm
The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF), in a statement signed by its Convener, James Paul Adama, strongly condemned the policy, labeling it as “anti-religious, retrogressive, oppressive, and a gross violation of fundamental human rights.”
The group argued that the measure effectively censors religion and contradicts the Nigerian Constitution. Specifically, it cited Sections 38 and 39, which guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression. Beyond domestic law, the CCYF also referred to international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which safeguard religious liberty.
The Forum expressed frustration that at a time when Niger State faces some of the highest poverty levels in Nigeria, with more than 64 percent of residents living below the poverty line, the government has chosen to focus on policing sermons instead of addressing pressing socio-economic issues. It urged authorities to redirect their efforts toward tackling poverty, insecurity, healthcare gaps, education challenges, and infrastructural deficits rather than introducing policies perceived as discriminatory.
Legal Expert Denounces the Policy
Adding his voice to the debate, activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam criticized the governor’s move as “the highest attempt, in recent times, to gag free speech and by extension police religion.”
He warned that the policy could distract from the urgent security challenges in the state, particularly the growing menace of banditry that has affected multiple local government areas.
“To think that a governor in a state like Niger, ravaged by insecurity, is not preoccupied with intelligence gathering and reclaiming communities under siege, but instead focusing on sermon approvals, raises serious questions about leadership priorities,” Idam remarked.
Calls for Withdrawal
Both the CCYF and legal experts have demanded that the directive be scrapped immediately, stressing that it undermines constitutional rights and risks eroding peace and trust between citizens and the government.
As debates continue, the directive has drawn national attention, intensifying conversations around the delicate balance between governance, security, and the protection of religious freedoms in Nigeria.