A Comparative Analysis of the Legal and Ethical Implications of the Kaduna Preaching Bill

This study analyzes the legal and ethical implications of the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law in Nigeria, focusing on its impact on religious freedom and expression. Using a library-based methodology, the research examines primary legal sources, academic articles, human rights treaties, and case law to assess the bill’s alignment with national and international legal standards. The analysis reveals that, while the bill aims to regulate public order and curb extremism, its broad provisions on who can preach and where may inadvertently violate the right to freedom of speech and religious expression, potentially infringing on the constitutional right to practice religion freely. Ethical concerns are also addressed, including the potential for discriminatory enforcement of the bill, which could disproportionately affect certain religious groups and limit their ability to express their beliefs in public spaces. The study concludes that the Kaduna Preaching Bill needs revision to better balance the state’s regulatory role with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on reconciling state power with human rights in religious practice in Nigeria.