Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has banned open gospel preaching, citing noise pollution as the primary reason.
The ban was announced following the arrest and release of a pastor caught preaching in a marketplace.
In a viral video recorded at a market in Onitsha, Soludo confronted the preacher, warning that public preaching contravened state regulations.
He stressed that while freedom of religion is protected, it should not infringe on the peace and comfort of others.
“If you want to preach, go to your church and preach. You can’t come to the open market to disturb others in the name of preaching,” Soludo said.
He reiterated that exercising fundamental rights should not involve creating noise pollution that disrupts public order.
The governor warned that failure to comply with the new regulation could result in arrest and a fine of up to N500,000.
He also stated that the state government’s crackdown on noise pollution is part of a broader effort to rid Anambra of fake native doctors and fraudulent prophets.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some residents applauding the move to reduce noise pollution while others said the ban was against religious freedom.
