NEWS
CCN Urges President Tinubu, National Assembly to Review FRSC Amendment Bill, Warns Against Threat to Religious Freedom and Citizens’ Rights
The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to reconsider key provisions of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, expressing fears that certain aspects of the proposed legislation could undermine constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and deepen the hardship faced by millions of vulnerable Nigerians.
The council’s concerns centre on a controversial provision prescribing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught hawking, trading or preaching in commercial buses, arguing that grouping Christian evangelism alongside commercial activities raises significant constitutional, religious and human rights issues.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its General Secretary, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, the Christian body reaffirmed its support for initiatives aimed at promoting safer roads across the country but insisted that such measures must not come at the expense of the fundamental rights guaranteed to every Nigerian under the Constitution.
“The Christian Council of Nigeria fully supports every genuine effort aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents on our highways. Respect for traffic regulations saves lives and should be encouraged,“ the statement said.
The appeal follows the recent passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by the Senate. The proposed legislation introduces stiffer penalties for traffic violations, including a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who violate traffic lights and a ₦50,000 fine for anyone found hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses.
Reacting to the development, the CCN said it was “deeply concerned” over the decision to include preaching among the prohibited activities.
“While the objective may be to reduce distractions, the inclusion of preaching alongside hawking and trading raises legitimate concerns about freedom of religion and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,“ Onyemara said.
The council noted that for several decades, commercial buses have served as platforms where Christians peacefully share messages of faith, hope, repentance, encouragement and prayer with willing passengers, stressing that any attempt to restrict such religious expression should be subjected to rigorous constitutional scrutiny.
“For decades, commercial buses have served as places where many Christians have shared brief messages of hope, repentance, encouragement, and prayer with willing listeners.
“Any law that seeks to restrict such peaceful religious expression must be carefully scrutinized to ensure that it does not erode constitutional freedoms or create the perception that Christian evangelism is being unfairly restricted,“ the statement added.
Beyond the issue of religious liberty, the Christian Council also questioned the proposed penalty for hawkers, describing it as a punitive response that fails to address the underlying causes of street trading in Nigeria.
According to the council, rising poverty, unemployment and worsening economic conditions have forced many Nigerians into street and mobile trading as a means of survival, making the proposed sanctions both harsh and insensitive to prevailing realities.
“The Council also believes that imposing heavy fines on people engaged in hawking fails to address the deeper issues of poverty, unemployment, and economic hardship confronting millions of Nigerians. Poverty should not be criminalised,“ the statement read.
Rather than imposing severe financial penalties, the CCN urged the government to embrace more compassionate and sustainable solutions, including the establishment of designated trading zones, age-appropriate regulations where necessary and comprehensive economic empowerment programmes capable of reducing poverty and unemployment.
The Christian body further appealed to President Tinubu, the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to suspend further action on the bill until wider consultations are held with critical stakeholders across the country.
“The Christian Council of Nigeria therefore appeals to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Assembly, and relevant stakeholders to engage in wider consultation before the proposed amendment becomes law,“ Onyemara said.
According to the council, such consultations should involve faith-based organisations, civil society groups, transport unions, road safety experts and representatives of vulnerable communities to ensure that the final legislation adequately balances public safety with constitutional protections and citizens’ rights.
“Nigeria needs laws that are firm yet compassionate, laws that protect lives without placing unbearable burdens on citizens who are already struggling to survive,“ the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment to justice, national unity and democratic values, the Christian Council maintained that legislation should foster inclusion rather than create perceptions of discrimination or marginalisation.
“The Christian Council of Nigeria believes that legislation should unite rather than divide, protect rather than alienate, and promote both public safety and fundamental human rights. As the moral voice of the nation, the Council remains committed to supporting policies that uphold justice, compassion, religious liberty, and the dignity of every Nigerian,“ the statement concluded.