Abuja, Nigeria — The Senate has dismissed claims that the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Establishment Act seeks to outlaw street preaching, insisting that the proposed legislation only reinforces existing traffic safety provisions relating to commercial vehicles.
In a press statement issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, the upper legislative chamber said public concerns over the alleged criminalisation of preaching and hawking were based on a misunderstanding of the Bill.
According to the statement, preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles have been offences under Section 10(4) of the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, as well as Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012. The Senate explained that these provisions predate the current amendment process and are not newly introduced.
The statement further noted that the relevant provision, previously listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, has merely been renumbered as Item 49 in the amended version. It stressed that the amendment does not prohibit religious preaching in public spaces or on the streets but is specifically aimed at ensuring the safety of commuters and other road users within commercial vehicles.
Addressing reports linking the proposal to the Leader of the Senate, Senator , the Senate clarified that the amendment is not his personal initiative. Rather, it originated as a concurrence bill that had already been amended and passed by the House of Representatives before being transmitted to the Senate for constitutional concurrence.
The Senate also assured Nigerians that the legislative process remains ongoing and encouraged stakeholders with concerns to engage the appropriate institutions before the amendment is concluded. It described the consultation process as part of democratic lawmaking and urged the public not to be misled by claims suggesting that the Bill seeks to ban street evangelism or other lawful religious activities.
The press statement was issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, and dated 27 July 2026.
