Gov Wike issues strong warning to pastors in Rivers state

Few months after the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, sent a religious bill to the State House of Assembly to control and in effect, ban church worship and evangelism in the state, the Rivers State Government has warned pastors against generating unnecessary noise in public places.

Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike gave this warning through his Special Adviser on Pollution Control, Mr. Nwuke Anucha.

While speaking in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a pollution control and religious matters meeting with members of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Port Harcourt branch, the SA said the noise churches produce in Port Harcourt was becoming alarming.

He expressed concern that the noise produced by sound systems used by churches was causing unrest in the state, stressing that no responsible government would not take steps to reduce the menace.

Anucha said, “My lords, you will agree with me that the emission of gaseous substance, the sound level of our electric power generation sets and indeed the noise generated by the use of loudspeakers in some of our worship centers in no doubt cause serious disorder to human co-existence.

“It is on this premise of good neighbourliness that necessitated this meeting. The public outcry about the noise and air pollution generated by some of our churches is so alarming that no responsible and responsive government will shy away from taking necessary actions.

“Churches need to cut down the use of loudspeakers with a sound level not above the recommended decibel outside and inside.