The Senate has clarified that the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act does not prohibit street preaching, but seeks to regulate activities carried out inside commercial vehicles in the interest of road safety.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the Senate explained that preaching and hawking inside commercial vehicles have long been classified as offences under existing road traffic regulations.
Bamidele stated that the provisions are contained in Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2012.
According to him, the restrictions are not new additions introduced by the current amendment process, noting that the provisions have existed in the law since 2007.
He explained that preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles were previously listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act and are now captured as Item 49 following the proposed amendment.
The Senate Leader stressed that the amendment is focused on protecting commuters, drivers, and other road users, and should not be interpreted as an attempt to restrict religious expression or activities in public spaces.
“The Bill does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed. It is about the safety of commuters and other road users and not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space,” the statement said.
Bamidele also clarified that the amendment is not a personal initiative of the Senate Leader but a concurrence bill originally amended and passed by the House of Representatives.
He noted that, in line with constitutional requirements, the Senate must consider and concur with the amendment before it can become law.
The lawmaker added that the legislative process is still ongoing, encouraging stakeholders with concerns about the proposed changes to present their views through appropriate channels before the conclusion of the amendment process.
The clarification follows public reactions and concerns over reports suggesting that the proposed amendment would restrict preaching activities, which the Senate said was a misunderstanding of the provisions.
