Faith leaders warn the FRSC Amendment Bill targets Christian commuters and reflects unequal enforcement of laws across Nigeria.
By Ebere Inyama
OWERRI, Nigeria — Christian leaders across Nigeria are pushing back against a proposed federal ban on preaching inside commercial vehicles, arguing that the measure threatens religious freedom and would disproportionately target Christian commuters. The amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, passed by the Senate in July, imposes fines and possible jail time for preaching, hawking, or trading in public transport — a move faith leaders say reflects deeper patterns of unequal law enforcement and selective policing across the country.
The amended bill which was passed by the Senate on 14 July, 2026, proposed a ₦50,000 ($37) fine for violators or a jail term of six months.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on 5 August, 2026, President of The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, said Christians would not obey the FRSC Bill even if President Tinibu signs it into law.
“ If they want to imprison us, let them come and arrest us. We will preach in buses; they cannot stop us,” said Oke.
“Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become prisons if you want to enforce that law. We are coming. We will preach inside buses; we will preach everywhere,” he added.
Earlier on 23 July, 2026, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West region, Bishop Barnabas Akinsanya, urged President Tinibu not to sign the bill into law.
“Many Nigerians depend on legitimate informal trading for their daily survival”, wrote Akinsanya in a statement.
“Rather than adopting measures that may further worsen economic hardship, the government should prioritise policies that create employment opportunities and reduce poverty,” the statement continued.
“We therefore respectfully appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withhold assent to the Bill in its present form and encourage further consultation with relevant stakeholders”, Akinsanya added in the statement.
Unequal law enforcement raises concern among Nigerian Christians
Speaking during an interview with TruthNigeria, the former Chairman of the Independent Newspaper Publishers Association (INPA), Imo state, Mr. Vitalis Diala (JP), said Christians are being targeted by those who introduced the amended FRSC bill.
“Although the FRSC bill appears to be neutral, the fact remains that it will affect Christians alone because they are the ones that preach inside commercial vehicles”, said Diala to TruthNigeria.
“The systemic bias in the country is evident from the fact that Fulani herdsmen move about with AK 47 rifles without any harassment by the police and the army whereas a Christian farmer in Nigeria cannot freely move about with a shotgun without being arrested by the security operatives”, Diala added.
“Currently, we have two sets of laws in Nigeria – the law for the North and the law for the South”, said senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Mr. Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“In the North, terrorists are called bandits, the government negotiates with them and pay them huge amounts of money for their terrorism while in the South, unarmed freedom fighters are called terrorists, the government arrests them and even kills them at will”, Abaribe added.
When government lacks power to enforce the law
When the anti-open grazing bill was introduced by some states in Nigeria, some Moslem Senators from the northern region reportedly kicked against the bill.
The stand taken by the northern senators was reinforced by the refusal of the Federal Government to recognize the anti-open grazing laws enacted by various state governments.
“Almost all the states of the southwest region of Nigeria have passed laws banning open grazing but many months after the enactment of such laws, animals, particularly cows still graze openly in major towns of the region”, according to the Tribune.
In Benue state, over 100 security operatives were reportedly killed by armed cattle herders while they were enforcing the state’s anti -grazing law.
“Laws are supposed to be enforced by the police, but the state governments that enacted the anti-grazing laws unfortunately do not have control over the police to ensure enforcement”, said a Delta state – based legal practitioner, Dr Eric Omare.
When a government promotes illegality
In February 2021, Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, defended Fulani herders moving around with AK-47 rifles.
“They are forced to carry AK-47 rifles because the government fails to protect them from armed cattle rustlers”, Governor Mohammed had said.
The statement made by Bauchi state governor at that time drew backlash from thought leaders in Nigeria.
“My brother, Bauchi governor’s justification for AK47 amounts to baptizing infamy”, wrote Senator Shehu Sani in a post on Twitter.
“He is speaking the minds of a lot of influential decision makers and that is exactly where the problem is and why it doesn’t look like they are ready for a solution any time soon,” said Dr. Dipo Awojide.
“He was only justifying the crimes being committed by the herders”, said National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin.
The danger ahead
Speaking further during the interview with TruthNigeria, Diala warned the Nigerian security agencies about the dangers of engaging in double standards in the course of their duty.
“Enforcing the Federal Road Safety Corps Amendment Bill without enforcing the ban on illegal possession of firearms could trigger religious tension in the country”, said Diala to TruthNigeria.
“Giving preferential treatment to people based on their religious or political affiliations reduces trust in leadership, violates human rights and often leads to civil unrest”, Diala added.
Under the Nigerian Firearms Act, civilians are prohibited from using military grade weapons such as AK 47 rifles.
Possession of firearms, which is not in accordance to the provisions of the Firearms Act and the Firearms Regulation, is a crime punishable with a maximum imprisonment term of 5 years
Ebere Inyama is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
