President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has declared that Christians will continue preaching inside commercial buses despite provisions in Nigeria’s road traffic laws that prohibit preaching, hawking and trading in moving public vehicles.
Bishop Oke made the remarks while addressing worshippers in a video that circulated on social media on Monday, 3 August 2026, criticising the restriction and urging Christians not to be deterred from evangelising in public transport.
Also read: Senate defends bus preaching bill amid backlash over ₦50,000 fine
Describing the provision as unacceptable, the cleric said the directive conflicted with the Christian mandate to spread the gospel.
“We will break that law because our Master told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Oke said.
“You sit somewhere there and say we should not preach in buses? We will preach in buses, and we will preach everywhere.”
The PFN president also challenged authorities to enforce the provision if they believed it was necessary, claiming the fellowship represented more than 65 million Christians across the country.
“I lead over 65 million people. Everybody, go into every taxi, go into every bus and preach. Let them arrest us and turn the National Stadium into a prison. Let them build more prisons,” he said.
Bishop Oke argued that security agencies and lawmakers should prioritise tackling violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry and armed attacks rather than enforcing restrictions against religious preaching.
“You don’t go after killers, those beheading people, rapists, kidnappers and bandits unlawfully carrying arms, but you are going after us preaching the gospel of peace,” he said. “We won’t listen to you. You are not God. You are there for a tenure.”
The comments followed public debate over provisions in the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act relating to activities inside commercial vehicles.
Amid growing public reaction, the Senate clarified that the restriction is not a new proposal introduced through the ongoing amendment of the FRSC Act.
According to the upper chamber, the provision has been part of the law since 2007 and was enacted to reduce distractions for drivers and improve passenger safety.
The Senate also stressed that the legislation does not ban preaching in public places or on the streets. Instead, it specifically addresses activities inside commercial vehicles that could interfere with safe transportation.
The renewed debate has generated mixed reactions, with supporters of the restriction arguing that public safety should take precedence in commercial transport, while some religious groups contend that the provision could limit their ability to carry out evangelism.
Also read: Senate defends bus preaching bill amid backlash over ₦50,000 fine
The debate is expected to remain a subject of public discussion as lawmakers continue work on amendments to the FRSC Act and religious organisations weigh the implications for public evangelism.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
