Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has issued a stern warning against roadside preachers using loudspeakers in public spaces, particularly in markets, citing noise pollution and disruption to businesses.
A viral video circulating on social media shows Soludo confronting a street preacher at what is believed to be Ochanja Market in Onitsha. The governor firmly instructed the preacher to stop disturbing traders and advised him to take his sermons to a church or rent an open space where only interested listeners would attend.
“If you want to preach the word of God, go to your church. This is a marketplace, not a church. You are causing noise pollution and disturbing people,” Soludo said.
To enforce the directive, the governor announced that violators would face a fine of ₦500,000 for unauthorized use of loudspeakers in markets. He also emphasized that the state government is cracking down on what he called “fake pastors and prophets” operating unlawfully in Anambra.
The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding the effort to maintain order, while others see it as an attack on religious expression.
