By Chidimma Okwara,
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has ignited a national debate on religious freedom and state censorship after confirming a new policy that mandates all religious preachers—Muslim and Christian alike—to submit their sermons to the state government for vetting and approval before public delivery. The directive, which the government justifies as a necessary security measure, has drawn swift condemnation from legal experts and faith groups across Nigeria.
The Governor’s Justification: Curbing Incitement and Anti-Government Speech
Governor Bago confirmed the controversial measure during a recent appearance on a satellite television program, where he firmly defended the policy as essential for maintaining peace and security in a region grappling with banditry and extremism.
“I didn’t ban evangelism,” Governor Bago clarified. “But 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.”
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The core objective, according to the Governor, is to preempt messages that are deemed “anti-people, anti-government” or that incite religious or public unrest. He stressed that the state cannot tolerate clerics using their platforms to preach doctrines that threaten social harmony or oppose the government’s efforts.
To enforce the measure, the Governor disclosed that state security apparatuses, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Civil Defence Corps, would collaborate with the Religious Affairs Bureau to monitor and regulate the content of all religious messages.
The New Regulatory Framework: Licensing and Screening
The official mechanism for implementing the order was outlined by Umar Farooq, the Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs Bureau. Beyond the pre-approval of sermon content, the policy introduces a mandatory licensing regime for all preachers in the state.
Preachers have been given a two-month ultimatum to comply. The process involves:
Obtaining and filling out a “Da’awah Registration Form.”
Appearing before a specialized screening panel for evaluation.
Receiving certification, which can be withdrawn if the preacher violates the established guidelines for peace and tolerance.
This process transforms the right to preach from a constitutional freedom into a government-regulated privilege, granting the state unprecedented oversight over spiritual and theological discourse.
Constitutional Crisis: Vetting vs. Freedom of Expression
The implementation of sermon vetting has been met with immediate and fierce criticism from Nigeria’s civil society and legal community, many of whom argue it is a direct assault on the fundamental rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
Legal practitioners argue that the policy fundamentally infringes upon Section 38, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and Section 39, which secures freedom of expression. By requiring prior governmental approval, critics contend the state is engaging in unconstitutional censorship.
Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam criticized the policy as “the highest attempt, in recent times, to gag free speech and by extension police religion.” He further questioned the government’s priorities, suggesting its focus should be on the pervasive insecurity and banditry plaguing local government areas, rather than policing the pulpit.
Furthermore, legal experts have dismissed Governor Bago’s comparison to Saudi Arabia, noting that Nigeria is a secular, democratic state that guarantees religious pluralism, unlike the theocratic monarchy Bago referenced.
Mixed Reactions from Religious Bodies
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, offered a measured response. While a separate group, the Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF), strongly condemned the law as “anti-religious, retrogressive, and oppressive,” the local CAN leadership initially sought to clarify the directive.
The Christian body’s media aide, Daniel Atori, suggested the order was misunderstood, stating that the Bureau was merely introducing a registration and certification process to guide clerics and curb misleading preaching, not imposing a blanket ban or targeting Christians specifically.
However, the Governor’s unambiguous interview statements about the need for “review” of sermons and preventing “anti-government” messages suggest the policy extends far beyond simple registration, cementing the view among critics that the Niger State government is dangerously crossing the line between protecting public order and suppressing fundamental religious liberties.
