The Christian Association of Nigeria has said it will not sue the Niger State Government over the directive requiring clerics to obtain a licence before preaching in the state.
CAN explained that the order, contrary to media reports, does not affect Christians, stressing that the state Bureau for Religious Affairs does not have the authority to arbitrarily ban preachers except in cases of clear violation of established guidelines.
In a statement on Sunday, the media aide to the Niger CAN Chairman, Daniel Atori, said the directive was misunderstood.
According to him, the bureau merely convened a meeting to introduce the Da’awah Registration Form and Certification Process, part of efforts to prevent misleading preaching and promote religious harmony.
“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.
“The agency does not have the authority to arbitrarily ban clerics unless there is a clear violation of established guidelines. The said meeting by the Bureau was convened to introduce the Da’awah Registration Form and Certification Process, which is part of ongoing efforts to prevent misunderstandings and curb the spread of misleading preaching across the state.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs has also debunked claims that it banned preaching in the state.
In a statement signed by its media aide, Haruna Mustapha, the bureau said: “The attention of the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports circulating on various social media platforms and print media falsely claiming that the Bureau has suspended Islamic scholars and clerics from preaching in the state. This information is incorrect and amounts to misinformation. The agency does not have the authority to arbitrarily ban Islamic scholars or clerics unless there is a clear violation of established guidelines.”
Mustapha clarified that the meeting held on September 4 under the Peace and Conflict Management Committee, led by the Director General, was strictly to unveil the new certification process.
He explained that clerics who intend to preach in Niger State must obtain the Da’awah Registration Form and undergo a basic evaluation before certification, ensuring their preaching aligns with peace and mutual respect.
“The objective of the exercise is to sensitise the sector, promote religious harmony, unity, and ensure proper religious propagation throughout the state,” Mustapha said. “Furthermore, the committee has been mandated to issue guidelines to all applicants, and any violation of the guidelines may lead to withdrawal of the certificate granted.”
He added that the registration exercise, which commenced on September 4, will run until September 30, urging interested clerics to obtain the forms within the stipulated time to avoid miscommunication.
The bureau reiterated its commitment to upholding religious harmony and promoting responsible religious outreach in the state.
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