Leading Christian groups have rejected a proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, by the Senate that would criminalise preaching inside commercial vehicles, arguing that the measure threatens constitutionally protected freedoms of religion and expression.
The opposition follows the Senate’s passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to prohibit hawking, trading and preaching in commercial buses, as part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce distractions for drivers.
The bill is currently awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s assent.If signed into law, offenders could face a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The legislation also introduced penalties for motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion.
In its reaction, the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), described the inclusion of preaching among prohibited activities as troubling, insisting that while road safety should be promoted, constitutional rights must not be undermined.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Evans Onyemara, the council said it supports genuine efforts to reduce road accidents, but questioned the decision to classify religious evangelism alongside commercial activities.
According to the council, commercial buses have long served as venues where Christians share brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement and prayers with willing passengers.
The CCN maintained that restricting such religious activities raises significant constitutional and human rights concerns, stressing that freedom of religion and expression are guaranteed under the constitution.
Beyond the issue of preaching, the council also criticised the proposed ₦50,000 penalty for hawkers, arguing that many Nigerians engage in mobile trading because of widespread poverty, unemployment and worsening economic hardship.
It said the legislation addresses the symptoms of the country’s economic challenges, rather than the root causes, urging the government to adopt more compassionate solutions such as designated trading areas, economic empowerment programmes and targeted regulations instead of punitive sanctions.
The organisation appealed to President Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to subject the bill to wider public consultation before it becomes law.
Similarly, the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) urged Tinubu to withhold assent to the bill, warning that criminalising peaceful religious expression could amount to an unnecessary restriction of citizens’ constitutional rights.
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In a statement signed by its President, Israel Akinadewo, the association described it as inappropriate to equate the peaceful proclamation of the Gospel with commercial hawking.
The OAIC argued that preaching in commercial vehicles has for decades remained a legitimate means of spreading messages of faith, hope, morality, repentance and peaceful coexistence across Nigeria.
The association called on lawmakers to review the controversial provisions through broader consultations involving religious organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders to ensure that public safety objectives do not come at the expense of fundamental rights.
While reaffirming its commitment to lawful and responsible religious conduct, the OAIC urged preachers to carry out evangelism in ways that respect public order, while calling on the government to safeguard the constitutional freedoms that underpin Nigeria’s democracy.
