FRSC Bill: Proposed Bus Preaching Fine Threatens Religious Freedom, Says NOSCEF

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent to the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026, over a provision prescribing a N50,000 fine for individuals who preach in commercial buses.

The forum described the provision as unconstitutional, saying it violates Nigerians’ rights to freedom of religion and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, NOSCEF said criminalising peaceful religious preaching in commercial vehicles amounted to “a dangerous encroachment on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians to freedom of religion, freedom of expression and peaceful propagation of their faith.”

The forum warned that enforcing such a provision could create unnecessary controversy and deepen existing divisions in the country.

“We respectfully urge Mr. President not to allow himself to be drawn into endorsing legislation that could plunge the nation into avoidable controversy and deepen existing divisions. Road safety legislation should not become a vehicle for restricting fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

According to NOSCEF, the Christian faith is founded on the divine mandate of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel, describing evangelism as a sacred obligation rather than a political activity.

“The Christian faith is founded on the divine mandate given by our Lord Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. This is not a political assignment but a sacred responsibility that Christians cannot abandon because of human legislation,” the forum stated.

It maintained that Christians had always carried out evangelism peacefully and without coercion, stressing that they respected the rights and beliefs of all Nigerians while remaining committed to proclaiming the Gospel wherever lawful opportunities existed.

NOSCEF also questioned whether religious stakeholders were consulted before the inclusion of the provision, noting that public preaching in commercial vehicles is widely practised by both Christians and Muslims across the country.

While expressing support for measures aimed at improving road safety and strengthening traffic law enforcement, the forum argued that such objectives should not come at the expense of constitutionally protected rights.

It, therefore, called on the National Assembly to review the amendment and expunge any provision seeking to penalise peaceful religious preaching, while urging Nigerians to remain calm and pursue their concerns through lawful and democratic means.

The forum added that Nigeria’s unity and stability would be better served by laws that protect the rights of every citizen rather than provisions capable of creating suspicion, resentment and avoidable religious tension.