The government of Lagos State has vowed to clamp down on any religious house preaching hate and divisive messages, hinting at a plan to place churches and mosques under watch beginning from 2016.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef in a meeting with members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja.
According to him, the government of Lagos had no choice but to place the religious houses under watch because of the debilitating effect of hate preaching.
While affirming the right of every citizen of Nigeria to freedom of worship, the commissioner said: “Henceforth, we will start to monitor mosques and churches and ensure that clerics do not engage in hate preaching.
“Our constitution in Nigeria has recognised the freedom and rights of every citizen to express himself or herself in a way he or she believes.”
Furthermore, Abdul-Lateef said: “The state government will begin inter-religious conferences where all religious bodies in the state, irrespective of their denominations will participate.
“NIREC will coordinate inter-religious conferences, but the state government will stop any religious leader who engages in hate preaching or hate messages capable of endangering people’s freedom.
“We will not tolerate religious intolerance. This is the time for advocacy, let everybody realize that you have the right and freedom to practice your religion but you will be stopped from practicing that religion if it creates mischief.
“Under Section 45 of the Nigeria Constitution, the government is empowered to put a stop to your freedom when it endangers other people’s freedom.”
He also charged religious leaders to immediately shut down their loudspeakers after calling their faithfuls to prayers, stating that blaring loudspeakers constitute nuisance to right-thinking Lagosians.