₦airaland Forum

Christian organisations have opposed the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps Bill, which seeks to criminalise preaching in commercial vehicles.

The Christian bodies, including the Christian Council of Nigeria and the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, warned that the proposed legislation could infringe on Nigerians’ constitutional rights and worsen the plight of vulnerable citizens.

On Thursday, the Senate passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

The bill, which seeks to strengthen road safety enforcement and curb practices considered capable of distracting drivers, now awaits presidential assent.

If signed into law, the legislation will impose a N50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both, on motorists who refuse to cooperate with officials of the FRSC during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion.

Reacting to the proposed legislation, the CCN said it was “deeply concerned” about the inclusion of preaching among the prohibited activities.

The body, in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Evans Onyemara, said although it supports measures aimed at improving road safety, the legislation should not come at the expense of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.


The council argued that placing Christian evangelism in the same category as commercial activities raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns.

“The Christian Council of Nigeria fully supports every genuine effort aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents on our highways. Respect for traffic regulations saves lives and should be encouraged.

“While the objective may be to reduce distractions, the inclusion of preaching alongside hawking and trading raises legitimate concerns about freedom of religion and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Onyemara said.

According to the council, commercial buses have for decades served as spaces where Christians share brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement and prayers with willing passengers, insisting that any attempt to restrict such activities must undergo careful constitutional scrutiny.

The council also faulted the proposed N50,000 fine for hawkers, saying the measure addresses the symptoms of the country’s economic crisis rather than its root causes.

According to the CCN, many Nigerians engage in street and mobile trading because of widespread poverty, unemployment and rising economic hardship, and should not be punished for trying to survive.

“The Council also believes that imposing heavy fines on people engaged in hawking fails to address the deeper issues of poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians. Poverty should not be criminalised,” the statement read.

It urged the government to adopt more humane alternatives, including the creation of designated trading areas, age-appropriate restrictions where necessary and sustainable economic empowerment programmes instead of punitive sanctions.

The Christian body appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to subject the bill to broader public consultation before it is signed into law.

On its part, the Organisation of African Instituted Churches called on the President to withhold assent to the proposed legislation, warning that any law with the effect of criminalising peaceful religious expression could constitute an unnecessary restriction on the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

The group made the call in a statement issued on Saturday by its President, Israel Akinadewo.

“[b]OAIC considers it insensitive and inappropriate to equate the peaceful proclamation of the Gospel with commercial hawking. While recognising the need to ensure safety and order on Nigerian roads, the Association maintains that preaching is a constitutionally protected exercise of the rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression, and should not be treated as a criminal or commercial activity,” [/b]Akinadewo said.

The association argued that preaching in commercial buses has, over the years, remained a legitimate means of spreading messages of faith, hope, morality, repentance and peaceful coexistence across the country.

“The Association therefore respectfully calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to assent to the Bill in its present form. We also urge the National Assembly to review the relevant provisions through broad consultations with religious bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that public safety is promoted without undermining the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and expression,” the statement added.


The association, however, reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law and responsible religious conduct, urging preachers to carry out evangelism in a manner that respects public order while calling on the government to protect the constitutional freedoms underpinning Nigeria’s democracy.

Source: https://punchng.com/christian-bodies-reject-planned-ban-on-bus-preaching

Stop the noise pollution. If other religions are flooding our streets, the buses with noise, what do you think will happen

On average of 2 churches are erected daily in Nigeria yet the crime rate is increasing. Abeg who have they been preaching to?

Even though I don't support the hawking part of the bill, una sha wants to constitute a nuisance without being checked. Talking about infringing on other people's rights, are you not infringing on other people's rights by preaching on the bus? It's wickedness and callousness to disturb people with unnecessary noise everywhere; Nigerians talk about a saner climate when it favours them. Religion should stay and confined to the place of worship

Antichrist..... government of the Antichrist.

Wrong priorities are the bane of the current Nigerian government. What negative impact does preaching have?

But the government cannot Ban terrorists. Kidnaping.

Government will not Ban terrorism because their commanding officer is in aso Ro ck

Leave people alone . Allow people live their lives
Imagine a traditional believer go around preaching his beliefs will you be OK with it? Let me not even go that far. Even a Muslim does this you won't be happy. Give people breathing space. Sunday church , weekdays church, early morning na to disturb person sleep , still come dey knock for person house. Una no dey taya? Leave people alone. People are fed up

Someone disturbing me with noise inside public bus is also infringing on my right.
Not only the preachers, but also those that sell medicine inside public transport.

Very anyhow religion, I dislike all this religions, why disturbing other people's peace, is church not enough? If it was traditionalists doing this, they will be the first to start criticizing and doing everything to make sure it's banned..

Most of our pastors can't talk,most of them have been compromised with money,gifts ,and relevance from the government.They call themselves prophets and never exhibit talking Truth to Power just like the prophets of old Yet they keep mute when Christians are persecuted because they drive in bullet proof cars. Emmanuel Macron puppet. Arise Oh Lord and let the enemies of your people be destroyed.

Buses should not be the best place for such activities.

In UK and other Western countries,yes "saner climes",it is against the law to preach inside public transport

Eleph:
Buses should not be the best place for such activities.

jihadist, iswap spotted. Muh muh , opoh nu

Hmmmmm. Wahala nor too much so ?

I expected this kind of excuse from Christian bodies......why don't they pray in the airplane ✈️?....does it mean air travellers don't need JESUS and repentance?


To me no going back on that law because the praying in the Bus is making many pastors lazy as they have taken the proceeds of the begging after the prayers as source of survival

Some Christians don't trust God self, after praying with family in the house with all the declarations, why boarder praying again in the bus?

Plus1234:
Antichrist..... government of the Antichrist.

Native doctors, Muslims, confraternity members are free to preach their beliefs in the bus too you know. Should we call the govt anti-babalawo anti this and that too. Cause this is not about Christians alone.

Plus1234:
Antichrist..... government of the Antichrist.

For stopping your infringement on other people's rights? How many of these nuisances can you replicate in a saner climate? Even you can't try this rubbish in the so-called Israel where Jesus was claimed to have been born, not to mention in Europe, where you borrowed the religion

Freedom of religion isn't a lifetime pass to turn every danfo into a mobile crusade ;Doo bus is for transportation, not compulsory evangelism. If you think every public space is fair game for preaching, don't complain when someone else uses the same space to preach the exact opposite

While I detest some of the activities of the so called preachers, the govt should also ban open Friday prayers by Muslims who sometimes infringe the on movement of road users because of their "prayer"

Though the Bible said ; " Preach the gospel to every creature " But Bus preaching is for money making, most of them are doing it for personal gains.

Adeboye supports it pls. The preaching that cant at least help hookup girls and yahoo boys to repent? Una see their plans?

When every sermon ends with 'anything for the ministry?
it's fair to wonder if it's evangelism or begging in disguise 🥸

Agberos shouting and insults is not infringing on your rights but preaching is infringing? This govt is insane

To think that senators who are supposedly Christians were there when this anti Christian law was passed is annoying. Assuming it goes against Isam,see the way their senators and religious body will oppose it at once.
How about those buses operated by muslims that stops at intervals regardless of where they are,just to observe the muslim prayers,not minding whatever religion they passengers are and endangering all because they passengers could be kidnapped or a moving vehicle could ram on them.
FRSC didn't even add in their so called law,that religious bodies blocking roads in the name of prayers should be sanctioned.
If Christian's allow this to slide then we are stupid in this country.

Dottore:
Wrong priorities are the bane of the current Nigerian government. What negative impact does preaching have?

Noice Pollution. Remember you did it in primary and secondary schools

Ban preaching in public places?



First ban praying on express or public roads too...

Plus1234:
jihadist, iswap spotted. Muh muh , opoh nu

Zionist and Crusader on the move.... Bros J and him pipu no de get shame