The Senate has moved to calm public outrage over reports of a “new ban” on preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles, saying the provision in the amended Federal Road Safety Corps Act only reinforces a restriction that has existed in Nigerian law since 2007.
The clarification came after the upper chamber passed the FRSC Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses.
What The Senate Actually Passed
On Thursday, the Senate passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026 as part of a broader review aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and reducing crashes.
Under the proposed amendment, anyone found hawking, trading or preaching inside a commercial vehicle commits an offence and, upon conviction, will be liable to a N50,000 fine.
Lawmakers said the provision was introduced to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and improve the safety of commuters.
The bill also raises penalties for other offences:
Driving under the influence of alcohol: from N5,000 to N100,000 or up to two years imprisonment
Refusing roadside breath tests: N50,000 fine, six months imprisonment, or both
Violating traffic lights and road signs: N100,000
The amendment now awaits presidential assent.
Not New, Senate Says
Following backlash, the Senate issued a statement on Monday through the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in the Office of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.“The Senate has duly noticed public concerns on the purported proscription of preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle under the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22, 2007,” the statement read.
It explained that the offences are already backed by Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, and 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,” the Senate stated.
According to the Senate, the provision previously appeared as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the 2007 Act and has only been renumbered as Item 49 in the amended version.
“Entrenched as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are not new provisions in our legal system. The provisions have been part of the Act as far back as 2007,” it added.
Why The Provision Is Back In Focus
For years, Nigerian commercial buses have doubled as spaces for evangelism, public enlightenment, and small-scale trading. Preachers share messages, hawkers sell goods, and agencies sometimes disseminate information to commuters.
The Senate argues that these activities can distract drivers and endanger passengers. “Our roads have become marketplaces and crusade grounds. This cannot continue. The penalties must hurt enough to change behaviour,” one lawmaker said during plenary.
The amendment increases fines by up to 300% across 52 listed traffic offences as part of efforts to curb recklessness and improve compliance.
Public Reaction
The proposed penalty sparked criticism, particularly from religious groups. The Christian Association of Nigeria, South-West region, rejected the provision, warning that it could restrict citizens’ constitutional rights.
In a statement, CAN South-West Chairman Bishop Barnabas Akinsanya said: “We support every genuine effort aimed at protecting lives and promoting responsible road use. However, we respectfully express serious concerns regarding aspects of the proposed FRSC Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, particularly the provision prescribing sanctions for preaching in commercial buses”.
Public commentators also noted the dilemma: while some passengers feel uncomfortable with unsolicited preaching or aggressive hawking, others look forward to the messages or buy from hawkers during trips.
The bill has been transmitted for presidential assent. If signed into law, FRSC officials will be empowered to enforce the N50,000 penalty for preaching, hawking or trading in commercial vehicles.
The Senate insists the goal is not to target religion or livelihoods, but to reduce distractions that contribute to road crashes. It maintains that the law only codifies and strengthens what has been on the books since 2007.
As debate continues, commuters, transport unions, religious bodies and civil society groups are expected to engage lawmakers further before the bill becomes law.
For now, the Senate’s message is clear: this is not a new ban. It is an old rule, with a new price tag.
