Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has clarified that he banned noise pollution, not evangelism, as some have speculated.
The governor faced criticism from some Nigerians after a video surfaced showing him confronting an unidentified street preacher in a market last Saturday. In the video, Soludo asked the preacher to stop causing a disturbance and reminded him of the law against noise pollution. He suggested the preacher move his activities to a church or a designated area and warned that violators could face a fine of N500,000.
In response to the backlash, the governor issued a statement through the state’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, dismissing claims that he had banned evangelism. He stressed that Soludo’s comments had been misinterpreted.
“The Anambra State Government wishes to address the false reports surrounding Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent encounter with an itinerant preacher at Onitsha Market,” the statement read.
Mefor explained that the governor’s remarks were focused solely on noise pollution, as prohibited under an existing public health law, not on banning evangelism.
“The governor was enforcing the Anambra State Public Health Law 2006, which bans excessive noise in public spaces, including markets,” Mefor added.
He clarified that the law prohibits noise pollution and preaching in places like markets using loudspeakers. The governor’s advice was for preachers to conduct their activities in churches or other designated spaces where people could willingly participate without disturbing others.
Mefor also referenced past legal actions on the issue, including a 2019 ruling by a magistrate’s court in Nnewi that upheld the law against a church violating noise pollution regulations.
“The public is therefore urged to disregard any claims suggesting that Governor Soludo has banned evangelism or public preaching in Anambra State. Instead, we encourage citizens to follow the Public Health Law and respect the rights of others,” he concluded.
