They Can Imprison Us,We’ll Keep Preaching In Buses — PFN Rejects Proposed Restriction On Evangelism

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has vowed to resist any attempt to stop Christians from preaching in commercial buses, insisting that believers will continue evangelising even if such a law is enforced.

PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, stated this on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The proposed legislation prescribes a fine of N50,000 for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

“We will preach in buses if they want to imprison us; let them come and arrest us. We are coming. We will preach in buses; they cannot stop us,” Oke said.

The Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries International said Christians would “rather obey God than man,” arguing that any restriction on public preaching would violate their constitutional right to propagate their faith.

Defending remarks he made in a viral video while addressing his congregation, Oke reiterated his resolve to resist any attempt to prohibit public evangelism.

“Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become a prison if you want to enforce that law. We are coming. We will preach in buses; we will preach everywhere,” he said in the video.

The cleric described the proposal as an attack on Christians rather than a genuine effort to improve public safety.

According to him, the proposed restriction reflects what he believes is a broader pattern of policies targeting Christians.

He added that Nigeria is a multi-religious nation and should remain a country where people of different faiths are free to practise and propagate their beliefs.

The controversy followed public concerns over provisions in the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026 relating to preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles.

However, the Senate has clarified that the amendment bill does not introduce a new prohibition on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles.

According to the upper chamber, the provision has existed since the enactment of the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007, where it appeared as Item 36 of the Second Schedule, and was later retained as Item 49 in the proposed amendment. The Senate also cited Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.

The Senate further dismissed claims that the bill seeks to ban street preaching or restrict religious activities in public places.

“It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and is not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” the Senate said in a statement.

The Senate also clarified that the bill was not sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, explaining that it originated in the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate as a concurrence bill.

It added that the legislative process is still ongoing and urged stakeholders to channel their concerns through the appropriate legislative process before the bill is passed.