The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has officially requested that President Bola Tinubu withhold his approval from a pending bill aimed at restricting preaching and hawking. During a press briefing in Lagos following a National Executive Council meeting, PFN National Secretary Bishop David Bakare characterized the proposed law as an extraneous measure that unfairly targets the Christian community.
Bishop Bakare emphasized that the government should focus on the nation’s severe struggles with hunger, insecurity, and economic instability rather than drafting new regulations. He argued that Nigeria already possesses sufficient laws, noting that the real issue is the failure to properly enforce existing statutes. The PFN expressed strong disagreement with the proposal to label preaching in commercial vehicles as a traffic violation, suggesting that lawmakers failed to engage in adequate consultation.
The organization further warned that the bill could inadvertently incite friction between the government and religious institutions. Given the sensitivity of religious issues in Nigeria, Bishop Bakare urged the president to reject the bill and initiate a broader public dialogue that includes all affected stakeholders.
