Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has clarified that he prohibited noise pollution rather than evangelism, contrary to what some individuals have speculated.
The governor faced criticism from certain Nigerians following a widely circulated video showing him addressing an unnamed street preacher in a market last Saturday.
In the recording, the governor instructed the preacher to cease creating a disturbance, citing the regulation against noise pollution, and suggested he relocate his sermon to a church or an assigned area, cautioning that offenders could face a N500,000 penalty.
In response to the criticism he encountered, the governor, through a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, refuted assertions of prohibiting evangelism, maintaining that Soludo’s comments had been misunderstood.
“The Anambra State Government wishes to address the misconstrued reports surrounding Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent encounter with an itinerant preacher at Onitsha Market.
The governor’s remarks were wrongly interpreted as a ban on evangelism, whereas his concern was solely about noise pollution, which is prohibited under an existing public health law.”
Mefor elaborated that Soludo was upholding the Anambra State Public Health Law 2006, which bans excessive noise in public spaces such as markets.
“To clarify, the governor referenced the Public Health Law 2006, which forbids noise pollution and preaching in inappropriate places like markets using loudspeakers. He advised preachers to conduct their activities in churches or designated locations where people can willingly participate without disrupting others’ daily activities,” the statement continued.
The commissioner also referenced prior legal precedents on the matter, mentioning that in 2019, a magistrate’s court in Nnewi affirmed the law against a church that breached noise pollution rules.
“The public is therefore advised to disregard any claims suggesting that Governor Soludo has banned evangelism or public preaching in Anambra State. Instead, we urge citizens to comply with the Public Health Law and respect the rights of others,” he concluded.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli