The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to review controversial provisions contained in the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that parts of the proposed legislation could infringe on Nigerians’ constitutional rights and further worsen the economic hardship faced by vulnerable citizens.
The council expressed particular concern over the provision prescribing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught hawking, trading or preaching in commercial buses, arguing that placing Christian evangelism in the same category as commercial activities raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its General Secretary, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, the CCN reiterated its support for every genuine effort aimed at improving road safety but stressed that such measures should not come at the expense of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
According to the council, while reducing distractions in commercial vehicles is a legitimate objective, including peaceful religious preaching among prohibited activities raises concerns over the constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression.
The Senate recently passed the FRSC (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who violate traffic lights and a ₦50,000 fine for individuals found hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses.
Reacting to the development, the CCN noted that commercial buses have, for decades, served as places where Christians share brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement and prayers with willing passengers. It maintained that any attempt to restrict such peaceful religious expression must undergo careful constitutional scrutiny to avoid creating the perception that Christian evangelism is being unfairly targeted.
Beyond the issue of preaching, the council also faulted the proposed ₦50,000 fine for hawkers, describing it as a measure that addresses the symptoms of Nigeria’s economic challenges rather than their root causes.
The council argued that many Nigerians engage in street and mobile trading due to widespread poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living, insisting that citizens struggling to survive should not be criminalised.
Instead of punitive sanctions, the CCN urged the government to adopt more humane alternatives, including the creation of designated trading areas, reasonable restrictions where necessary, and sustainable economic empowerment programmes to tackle unemployment and poverty.
The Christian body further called on President Tinubu, the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders to subject the bill to broader public consultation before it is signed into law.
According to the council, the consultation process should involve faith-based organisations, civil society groups, transport unions, road safety experts and representatives of vulnerable communities to ensure that the final legislation balances public safety with constitutional rights.
The CCN concluded that Nigeria needs laws that are firm yet compassionate—laws that protect lives without placing unbearable burdens on citizens already facing severe economic hardship. It added that legislation should promote unity rather than division while upholding justice, compassion, religious liberty and the dignity of every Nigerian.
