The Niger State government in Nigeria has introduced a new policy that requires preachers to submit their sermons for approval before delivery. This move has drawn sharp criticism from the Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF), which has urged Governor Umar Bago to withdraw the policy, calling it “anti‑religious, retrogressive, oppressive, and a gross violation of fundamental human rights.”
The CCYF argues that the policy infringes on the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression guaranteed by Sections 38 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution. It also cites international instruments—Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief—as protections for religious freedom.
Rather than imposing such regulations, the group contends that the Niger State government should concentrate on pressing challenges such as poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment. Niger State has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, with over 64 percent of its population living below the poverty line. The CCYF urges the government to redirect its efforts toward people‑oriented policies that can stimulate economic growth and improve education, health, infrastructure, and security.
While reaffirming its opposition to reckless and inciteful preaching, the CCYF maintains that subjecting sermons to government approval is unjustifiable and threatens peaceful coexistence. The group calls on the state government to repeal the policy, warning that it could undermine religious freedom and social harmony. The introduction of this policy has significant implications for Nigeria’s religious landscape and the protection of human rights, highlighting the need for the government to balance regulatory authority with the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms.
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