The Senate has clarified that the prohibition of preaching and hawking in commercial buses is not a new law but has been part of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act since 2007.
The clarification follows public reactions to the recently passed amendment to the Act, with some interpreting it as a fresh ban on religious preaching in public spaces.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, explained that the provision has always existed under the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22 of 2007, and was not introduced by the current amendment.
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According to him, the amendment only renumbered the provision from Item 36 to Item 49 in the Second Schedule of the Act without altering its substance.
Bamidele stressed that the law specifically prohibits preaching and hawking inside commercial vehicles in the interest of public safety and does not outlaw street preaching by individuals or religious organisations.
“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.
“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. Entrenched as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act, preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle are not new provisions in our legal system. The provisions have been part of the Act as far back as 2007. However, it is now listed as Item 49 in the Second Schedule of the Act,” the statement read.
The Senate leader maintained that the amendment was introduced to promote the safety of commuters and other road users rather than restrict religious activities.
“The bill, therefore, does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed in different fora. It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” he said.
Bamidele also clarified that the amendment was not his personal initiative but a concurrence bill already amended and passed by the House of Representatives before being considered by the Senate in line with constitutional requirements.
He noted that the legislative process was still ongoing and encouraged stakeholders with concerns to present their views through the appropriate channels before the amendment is concluded.
The amended bill, passed by the Senate on July 14, proposes stiffer penalties for traffic violations, including fines of up to ₦100,000 for offences such as speeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and disobeying traffic lights, road signs and road markings.
Motorists who refuse roadside breath tests conducted by Federal Road Safety Corps officials on reasonable suspicion of intoxication could face a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The bill also retains the prohibition of hawking or trading inside commercial vehicles, prescribing a ₦50,000 fine for offenders.
According to the Senate, the proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening the operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps and reducing road crashes across the country.