Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and the Nigerian Senate have defended the controversial Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following mounting public criticism over a proposed ₦50,000 penalty for preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles.

The Senate said the provision has been part of Nigerian law since 2007 and does not amount to a ban on street evangelism or other public religious activities.

Also read: Senate approves N50,000 fine for bus preaching, hawking

The clarification came after widespread debate sparked by reports that the amendment would introduce fresh restrictions on religious preaching.

Christian organisations, opposition parties and civil society groups argued that the proposal was insensitive at a time when many Nigerians are facing persistent inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power.

In a statement issued through the Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele said the disputed provision was already contained in Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, and reinforced by Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.

“Preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are offences. The offences have been part of the Act before the current amendment,” Senator Bamidele said.

The Senate explained that the provision previously appeared as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act and has simply been renumbered as Item 49 in the amendment under consideration.

According to lawmakers, the legislative change does not expand the scope of the offence but reorganises existing provisions while updating penalties and other traffic regulations.

Addressing concerns about freedom of worship, Senator Bamidele said the legislation was designed to improve commuter safety rather than restrict religious expression.

“The Bill does not outlaw preaching on the streets. It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” Senator Bamidele added.

The Senate also rejected claims that Senator Bamidele personally sponsored the contentious provision.

The chamber said the legislation originated in the House of Representatives and reached the Senate as a concurrence bill in line with constitutional legislative procedures.

Lawmakers further noted that the amendment process remains ongoing and encouraged stakeholders to submit their views before the process is concluded.

Beyond the debate over preaching in commercial vehicles, the bill proposes significantly tougher penalties for several traffic offences.

The proposed amendments would increase the fine for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000, while motorists who refuse roadside breath tests could face a ₦50,000 fine, up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.

The revised schedule also raises penalties for reckless driving, speeding and disobeying traffic control devices.

The controversy has generated a powerful national conversation that extends beyond road safety.

Several Christian leaders have argued that the proposal could create unnecessary religious tension despite the Senate’s insistence that the law only applies inside commercial vehicles.

Some faith groups have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent if the provision remains unchanged, while others have called for broader consultation before the legislation is finalised.

The dispute follows the Senate’s passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill earlier this month as part of a wider effort to strengthen traffic enforcement and reduce road crashes across Nigeria.

Also read: Senate approves N50,000 fine for bus preaching, hawking

Although the Senate Defends Bus Preaching Bill position seeks to reassure the public that no new offence has been created, the debate underscores the challenge of balancing public safety with constitutional freedoms in an increasingly sensitive political and economic climate.