The Senate has clarified that the controversial N50,000 fine for preaching inside commercial vehicles is not a new provision. It has been part of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act since 2007.
The clarification follows widespread public outrage over the passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill proposes a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading, or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
Senate Leader clarifies provision
In a statement issued on Monday, Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified that the contentious provision had been misrepresented. He insisted that the amendment neither introduced a fresh offence nor sought to prohibit preaching in public places.
“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,” he said.
“Pursuant to Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012, preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are offences. The offences have been part of the Act before the current amendment.”
He stressed that the legislation strictly targets promoting road safety and protecting commuters from distractions that could endanger lives.
“The Bill, therefore, does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed in different fora,” he added. “It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space.”
Bill originated from House of Representatives
The Senate also dismissed reports linking the amendment to Bamidele. The legislation originated from the House of Representatives.
“The Bill is not an initiative of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele,” he stated. “Rather, it is a concurrence bill first amended by the House of Representatives.”
He added that the amendment process is still ongoing. Stakeholders can channel their concerns to the appropriate institutions before the completion of the process.
Other provisions in the bill
Apart from the N50,000 fine for preaching and hawking, the bill proposes a N50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both for motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials conducting roadside breath tests.
It also raises the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol from N5,000 to N100,000. Offenders face up to two years’ imprisonment or both.
Similarly, the proposed legislation increases the penalty for disobeying traffic lights to N100,000. Speed limit violations and reckless driving would also attract stiffer sanctions.
Read also: Senate Pushes Bill to Make Meta, Google, X Open Offices in Nigeria
