CAN OPPOSES N50,000 FINE FOR PREACHING IN COMMERCIAL BUSES, SAYS IT VIOLATES NIGERIANS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, URGES TINUBU TO REJECT BILL

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West zone, has rejected the proposed ban on preaching inside commercial vehicles, warning that the measure could violate Nigerians’ constitutional rights.

The reaction follows the passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by the Senate. The bill proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles. It also prescribes a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both for motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion.

In a statement by its South-West Chairman, Bishop Barnabas Akinsanya, CAN expressed “serious concerns” over the bill, “particularly the provision prescribing sanctions for preaching in commercial buses and the outright prohibition of hawking in such vehicles.”

The association said, “While government has a constitutional responsibility to ensure public safety, it also has an equal obligation to uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression.”

It added, “We believe that any legislation capable of restricting these rights should be carefully examined to ensure that it is necessary, proportionate, and consistent with constitutional principles.”

CAN warned that banning religious preaching without proof that it poses a direct thr+at to public safety could create the impression of an unnecessary restriction on religious freedom.

CAN appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the bill and allow broader consultations with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is made.