Bishop Wale Oke, president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, has stated that Christians will continue to preach in commercial vehicles despite a legislative proposal that suggests fines for such activities. During an appearance on Channels Television, the cleric emphasized that the church views evangelism as a divine mandate, asserting that believers would persist even if it leads to potential legal consequences or incarceration.
The controversy stems from the Federal Road Safety Corps Amendment Bill 2026, which outlines a 50,000 naira penalty for individuals who hawk or preach in public transport. Bishop Oke argued that this measure represents an infringement on constitutional religious freedom and suggested it unfairly targets the Christian community.
Conversely, the Senate has clarified that this provision is not a new policy. Legislators pointed out that similar language has been included in the FRSC Establishment Act since 2007 and in the 2012 National Road Traffic Regulations. Lawmakers maintained that the primary objective of these regulations is to ensure passenger safety rather than to restrict religious expression. Additionally, the Senate confirmed the bill originated in the House of Representatives and clarified that Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele was not the sponsor.
