CAN Rules Out Legal Action Niger Over Preaching License

 

 

CAN Rules Out Legal Action Against Niger Over Preaching Licence

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has said it will not seek legal redress against the state government following the introduction of a licensing framework for religious preachers.

 

The state’s Bureau for Religious Affairs recently unveiled a Da’awah Registration Form and certification process for clerics, a move that triggered public speculation that the government had imposed a blanket ban on religious preaching.

 

In a statement issued yesterday, CAN’s spokesperson, Daniel Atori, clarified that the directive was targeted at Islamic clerics and did not affect Christian ministers in the state. According to him, the measure is designed to regulate preaching and guard against the spread of misleading messages rather than to curtail religious freedom.

 

“The Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, will not sue the state government because the statement, according to the Bureau of Religious Affairs, does not in any way affect Christians in the state,” Atori said. He explained that the certification process was aimed at promoting order and preventing unnecessary religious tensions.

 

Atori further noted that the bureau lacked the authority to arbitrarily ban clerics except in cases of clear violations of established guidelines.

 

Similarly, the Bureau’s media aide, Haruna Mustapha, dismissed reports of a ban on preaching as “misinformation,” insisting that the agency’s responsibility was to regulate, not prohibit, religious activities.

 

Mustapha said clerics intending to preach in Niger State must obtain the Da’awah Registration Form, undergo evaluation, and be duly certified. He added that the registration exercise, which commenced on September 4, would run until September 30.

 

“The agency remains committed to fostering religious harmony and establishing standards for responsible preaching in the state,” he said.