Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has clarified that the law restricting street and market evangelism is not aimed at suppressing the spread of the gospel but rather at controlling noise pollution in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, explaining that the governor’s recent interaction with an itinerant preacher at Onitsha Market was misinterpreted as a ban on evangelism.
“The focus was on noise pollution, which is prohibited by an existing public health law,” Mefor stated, referencing sections 8(1, 4b) and 9(1, 2) of the Public Health Laws of Anambra State, 2006, which make excessive noise a punishable offense.
He urged the public to disregard misinformation suggesting that Governor Soludo has banned evangelism outright. Instead, the law encourages preachers to conduct their activities in churches or designated areas where people can listen to the message without disturbing others.
Soludo’s administration has emphasized the need for public order, urging citizens to comply with the law while ensuring their rights and freedoms are respected.
