The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has mounted a strong opposition to key provisions of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, urging President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to halt what it described as attempts to criminalise peaceful Christian evangelism and punish poor Nigerians struggling to survive.
The council warned that aspects of the proposed legislation, particularly the provision imposing a ₦50,000 fine on anyone caught hawking, trading or preaching in commercial buses, could violate constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression while placing additional hardship on vulnerable citizens.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, the CCN said it supports genuine efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents but insisted that such measures must not undermine fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Christian Council of Nigeria fully supports every genuine effort aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents on our highways. Respect for traffic regulations saves lives and should be encouraged,” the statement said.
The Senate recently passed the FRSC (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing stiffer penalties for traffic-related offences, including a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who violate traffic lights and a ₦50,000 penalty for anyone found hawking, trading or preaching in commercial vehicles.
Reacting to the development, the council expressed deep concern over the inclusion of preaching among prohibited activities, arguing that equating Christian evangelism with commercial activities raises serious constitutional and human rights issues.
According to the CCN, commercial buses have, for decades, provided opportunities for Christians to share brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement and prayer with willing passengers, adding that peaceful religious expression should not be treated as a punishable offence.
The council warned that any law restricting such activities must undergo rigorous constitutional scrutiny to ensure it does not erode religious liberty or create the impression that Christian evangelism is being unfairly targeted.
Beyond the issue of preaching, the Christian body also criticised the proposed ₦50,000 fine for hawking, describing it as a policy that punishes poverty instead of addressing the economic realities forcing millions of Nigerians into street and mobile trading.
It noted that widespread unemployment, rising inflation and worsening economic hardship have pushed many citizens into informal businesses simply to survive, insisting that imposing heavy fines on such individuals amounts to criminalising poverty.
Rather than punitive sanctions, the CCN urged the Federal Government to introduce more compassionate alternatives, including designated trading areas, reasonable regulatory measures and sustainable economic empowerment programmes capable of addressing the root causes of street hawking.
The council further appealed to President Tinubu, the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to suspend further action on the bill until wider consultations are held with faith-based organisations, civil society groups, transport unions, road safety experts and representatives of vulnerable communities.
According to the CCN, such engagement is necessary to ensure that any final legislation strikes a balance between improving public safety and protecting the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
“Nigeria needs laws that are firm yet compassionate, laws that protect lives without placing unbearable burdens on citizens who are already struggling to survive,” the council stated.
The Christian body maintained that laws should strengthen national unity, protect fundamental rights and promote justice rather than fuel perceptions of discrimination or deepen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Reaffirming its position, the CCN pledged to continue advocating policies that uphold justice, compassion, religious freedom and the dignity of every Nigerian while supporting initiatives genuinely aimed at making the nation’s roads safer.