Christian organizations have pushed back against a provision in the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 that would ban preaching in commercial vehicles, arguing that it infringes on Nigerians’ constitutional right to freedom of religion and expression.
The bill, passed by the Senate on July 16, proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone found guilty of preaching, hawking or trading inside commercial vehicles. It is part of a wider package of road safety reforms aimed at reducing distractions on Nigerian roads, where thousands of road crash deaths are recorded annually. The legislation also introduces tougher penalties for other traffic-related offences and now awaits presidential assent.
Leading the opposition is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West, whose chairman, Bishop Barnabas Akinsanya, said the government must balance road safety objectives with citizens’ constitutional freedoms. While acknowledging the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce road accidents, CAN argued that an outright ban on preaching in buses could amount to an unnecessary restriction on religious liberty.
The association has urged President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the bill in its current form and instead encourage wider consultations involving religious organizations, civil society groups, transport unions, legal experts and road safety professionals. According to CAN, such engagement would help produce legislation that improves road safety without undermining fundamental rights.
Other Christian bodies, including the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), have echoed similar concerns. The council argued that placing peaceful religious preaching in the same category as hawking and trading raises constitutional questions, adding that any restrictions on public preaching should be supported by clear evidence that the activity poses a direct safety risk.
The proposal has also sparked debate on social media. While some Nigerians support the measure, arguing that unsolicited preaching and hawking can distract drivers and passengers, others believe the provision unfairly targets religious expression and should be reconsidered before becoming law.
The Presidency has yet to indicate whether Tinubu will sign the bill or return it to the National Assembly for further review.
