The Anambra State Government has clarified the ban on street and market evangelism, saying the target of the law is not to stop the spread of the gospel but curb noise pollution.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor gave the clarification in a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday.
Mefor said, “Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s recent encounter with an itinerant preacher at Onitsha Market was misinterpreted as a ban on evangelism, whereas his focus was on noise pollution, which has been banned by an extant law on public health.
“The issue at hand is noise pollution, not evangelism. Noise pollution is punishable under Sections 8(1,4b) and 9(1,2) of the Public Health Laws of Anambra State, 2006.
“As a matter of precedence, a magistrate court in Nnewi made this law actionable against a church in 2019. The public is therefore advised to disregard any claims suggesting Governor Soludo has banned evangelism or public preaching in Anambra State.
“Instead, we urge citizens to adhere to the Public Health Law and respect the rights of others.”
Mefor added that the governor clarified his stand when he drew attention to the Public Health Law 2006, which prohibits noise pollution and preaching in inappropriate places like markets using loudspeakers.
He said: “The governor advised preachers to conduct their activities in churches or designated areas where people can gather and listen to the word without disrupting others’ activities.”
