Image of Governor Umar Bago. Photo Credits: TVC News

The Niger State Government has unveiled a new policy mandating religious clerics to submit their sermons for approval before delivering them in public.

Governor Umar Bago confirmed the development during an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, stating that the measure aims to curb the spread of harmful or inciteful messages.

“I didn’t ban evangelism. 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,” Bago said. “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 and anti-government, and you think it’s normal.”

According to the governor, security agencies will play a central role in enforcing the directive. “We want to be able to see what they are preaching and hear what they are saying. We are working together with security agencies—the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military,” he added.

The policy also includes the introduction of a licensing system for religious preachers. Earlier this month, the head of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, announced that clerics must obtain licences within two months before engaging in preaching activities.

“It is true, the state government has banned preaching. Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months. All they need to do is to visit our office, get and fill out the form. After which, they will have to face a panel that will screen them before they can start preaching,” Farooq explained.

The development has sparked nationwide interest, with observers noting that the policy mirrors measures adopted in countries like Saudi Arabia, where religious messages undergo state vetting to prevent extremism.