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In a move that has triggered outrage within religious circles and renewed debate over state authority and due process, the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday, May 28, 2025, sealed the premises of St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Oke Padre, Ibadan, citing alleged environmental pollution traced to the church’s sanitation facilities.

The cathedral, which serves as the ecclesiastical seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, was also slapped with a N500,000 fine for what state officials described as “toilet pollution” affecting the surrounding neighborhood. The archdiocese, however, vehemently denies the charges and has threatened legal action against the government ministry if it fails to produce evidence of the grave allegations it claims led to the action.

The storm began with a petition purportedly submitted by unidentified members of the church’s surrounding community, alleging that two persons had died as a result of health complications caused by poor sanitation and environmental degradation emanating from the church premises. The petition accused the cathedral of allowing toxic waste to leak into the environment—specifically referencing the church’s toilet system—raising concerns of potential disease outbreak and endangerment of lives.

According to the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, it acted upon the petition “in the interest of public health and safety,” a spokesperson told local press on condition of anonymity.

“The evidence submitted to us suggested that the church’s sanitary facilities posed a risk to neighboring residents. Our environmental inspectors confirmed that the facility required urgent renovation. As a matter of law, once such a hazard is identified, we are obligated to act swiftly,” the ministry official said.

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But for the Catholic Church, the sudden closure came as both shocking and unjustified, especially considering that efforts to address the cited issues had already begun the very day the closure was implemented.

Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin, in an official statement delivered at a press briefing on Wednesday morning, strongly condemned the ministry’s action as “an unprovoked act of aggression against a sacred institution,” questioning both the legality and morality of the state’s decision.

“Let it be on record that we were not presented with any formal petition. The alleged deaths were mentioned casually, with no medical reports, no names, no identifiable victims. Yet, our cathedral was sealed as though we were running an illegal operation,” the Archbishop stated.

He explained that officials from the ministry had initially visited the premises and instructed the church to fix the toilet system serving the associated school—St. Mary’s Catholic School—within the compound. According to him, repairs had already commenced when ministry officials returned not with encouragement or oversight, but with padlocks and a closure notice.

“They said if they see the work going on, they will open the toilet, but rather than opening the place, they came to lock the gate to the entire cathedral,” the Archbishop lamented.

The cathedral compound, a sprawling area that also hosts administrative offices, a school, clergy residences, and serves as a major spiritual and civic landmark in Ibadan, was rendered inaccessible to parishioners and staff. Mass services were temporarily suspended, and the schoolchildren sent home until June 2 to allow the repair work to continue unimpeded.

News of the cathedral’s closure spread quickly, stirring confusion and outrage among the faithful and wider Ibadan community. For many, the government’s action symbolized a disregard for religious heritage and process.

“I was shocked when I got to the church and found the gate locked. No prior notice, nothing. It felt like a siege,” said Mrs. Agnes Ayoola, a parishioner who lives in the Mokola area. “Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, they didn’t close it like this.”

Some parishioners took to social media to express their dismay, accusing the state of targeting the Catholic Church for unknown political or ideological reasons. Others questioned the urgency and transparency of the ministry’s actions.

“I am not saying public health is not important,” said Mr. Peter Adelakun, a retired civil servant and longtime worshipper at the cathedral, “but if indeed people died, where are the death certificates? Where is the coroner’s report? You don’t destroy a church’s reputation on the basis of rumors.”

The incident has raised critical legal and ethical questions about due process, transparency in environmental enforcement, and the potential abuse of regulatory power.

Legal analyst and human rights advocate, Barrister Yemisi Adegoke, in a media interview, stated that while the state government has the constitutional mandate to protect public health, it must not do so in a way that violates the principles of fair hearing and proportionality.

“If the Catholic Church was indeed found to be in violation of environmental codes, the appropriate response would be a notice of violation and time-bound compliance orders—not sudden closure, especially when remediation had begun,” Adegoke argued.

She further added that the imposition of a N500,000 fine without a formal adjudication process may amount to extrajudicial punishment unless provided for under clearly defined state statutes.

In a tone that signaled deep frustration, Archbishop Abegunrin announced that the church would explore legal options if the ministry fails to retract its actions and provide documented evidence of the allegations that justified the sealing of the cathedral.

“We will not allow the good name of this church—built on generations of faith, sacrifice, and service—to be dragged in the mud without a fight. We demand the petition. We demand proof of the alleged deaths. Otherwise, we will consider this an act of defamation,” he said.

Legal experts suggest that should the matter proceed to court, it could test the limits of governmental regulatory authority over religious institutions, setting a precedent with implications far beyond Oyo State.

While no official statement has been issued by Governor Seyi Makinde or his office as of press time, insiders at the Oyo Government House are reportedly worried about the political fallout of the confrontation with the Catholic Church, one of the most influential Christian denominations in Nigeria.

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Analysts say the incident risks damaging the governor’s image as a fair and religiously tolerant leader, particularly in a state like Oyo where faith-based institutions wield significant social influence.

“It’s a very delicate situation,” said political commentator Dr. Tunde Olatunji. “Governor Makinde has built a reputation for inclusive governance. This incident, if not handled with transparency and humility, could quickly spiral into a crisis of confidence among religious voters.”

On the part of the Church, the sealing has been interpreted by some clergy members as part of a broader trend of state encroachment on ecclesiastical autonomy. A senior priest within the archdiocese, speaking anonymously, said the cathedral incident follows a “worrisome pattern of disrespect toward religious spaces.”

Beyond the legal and political drama, the incident also draws attention to a broader problem affecting urban areas in Nigeria: the collapse of public sanitation infrastructure and the burden placed on private entities, including churches, to manage waste in a failing system.

Experts point out that many faith-based institutions in Nigeria have had to build and manage their own water supply, waste disposal systems, and even roads, due to the inefficiency of government infrastructure in many states.

“If you visit many churches, mosques, and private schools in cities like Ibadan, you’ll find that they’re forced to create their own mini-municipalities,” said environmental engineer Olabisi Ogunsola. “They sink boreholes, dig soak-away pits, build treatment plants—all because the state can’t provide the basics.”