Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has explained that his recent action against a street preacher was about stopping noise pollution, not banning evangelism.
A video of the governor confronting a preacher in a market went viral, leading to criticism from some Nigerians. In the video, Soludo reminded the preacher about the state’s law against noise pollution and advised him to preach in a church or a designated area. He warned that violators could face a fine of N500,000.
Following the backlash, Anambra’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, released a statement clarifying the situation.
“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.”
He emphasized that Governor Soludo was only enforcing the Anambra State Public Health Law 2006, which prohibits excessive noise in public places, including 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 added
Mefor also pointed out that this law has been enforced before. In 2019, a magistrate’s court in Nnewi upheld the rule against a church that violated noise pollution regulations.
“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 said
Governor Soludo urges residents to respect public laws while practicing their faith, ensuring a peaceful environment for everyone.
