The Divisional Officer (DO) of Nkambe Boukar, has warned Churches operating illegally to obtain authorization or they will be shut down.
In a recent statement, the DO also asked
The DO implicated both authorized and unauthorized Churches for creating noise pollution.
He DO said these Churches “have fun in disturbing the population”. They do this by placing “loud speakers in and on the top of their roofs” during worship.
Terming the practice as ungodly, he warned that those who fail to desist would “face the consequences”.
Proliferation of Unauthorized Churches
He also addressed the proliferation of unauthorized churches in the Subdivision.
This is a concern that the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, addressed at the national level in December.
Reports indicate that numerous unregistered churches have sprung up across Nkambe, prompting calls for immediate regulation.
Local authorities have begun paying close attention to churches after Minister Atanga Nji issued a stern warning to unauthorized churches operating in Cameroon.
The Minister set a compliance deadline of January 15, 2025, for these churches to regularize their status.
In response to the Minister’s deadline, the Divisional Officer has obliged all clandestine churches to present their authorization documents immediately.
Churches that fail to comply risk shutting down.
This crackdown reflects a broader effort to restore public order and address the mounting frustrations of residents.
While freedom of worship remains a constitutional right, authorities emphasize that it must be exercised responsibly and in harmony with existing regulations.
The population had long criticized noise pollution from churches, saying they are usually too loud and disturb their quiet moments.