Adesanya-Davies Urges Tinubu to Reject Bill Proposing ₦50,000 Fine for Preaching in Commercial Buses
Former presidential candidate and Professor of Applied Linguistics at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Bishop Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, over a provision proposing a ₦50,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment for preaching in commercial vehicles.
In a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Adesanya-Davies described the provision as constitutionally questionable, arguing that peaceful religious preaching should not be treated as a criminal offence.
The controversial bill, which has already been passed by the Senate and is awaiting presidential assent, seeks to sanction preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles as part of measures aimed at improving road safety.
Rejecting the proposal, the former presidential candidate said the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of expression, insisting that peaceful evangelism cannot be equated with criminal conduct.
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a criminal offence. Peaceful evangelism cannot be equated with criminal conduct. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of expression. No democratic nation should criminalise peaceful preaching simply because it occurs inside a commercial vehicle,” she said.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to enhance road safety, Adesanya-Davies argued that enforcement efforts should focus on behaviours that genuinely endanger motorists and passengers, including reckless driving, driver distraction, intimidation of commuters and excessive noise that interferes with safe driving.
She maintained that Sections 38, 39 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) protect citizens’ rights to freedom of religion, expression and protection against discrimination, adding that any legislation affecting those rights should be carefully scrutinised for constitutional compliance.
The professor also noted that several Christian organisations had raised concerns over the proposed legislation, warning that it could unduly restrict constitutionally protected religious expression while supporting the broader objective of safer roads.
She urged the National Assembly to adopt a more balanced approach by strengthening enforcement against dangerous road practices rather than criminalising peaceful preaching.
Among her recommendations were stricter enforcement against reckless driving, sanctions for conduct that genuinely distracts drivers or endangers passengers, impartial enforcement of existing traffic and public order laws, improved regulation of livestock on highways, and broader consultations with constitutional lawyers, transport unions, faith communities, civil society organisations and road safety experts before finalising legislation affecting constitutional freedoms.
Adesanya-Davies further argued that preaching constitutes a form of protected public discourse.
“Language is the principal instrument of democracy. Religious preaching, academic lectures, motivational talks, civic education and political communication are all forms of public discourse. The law should regulate harmful conduct—not suppress peaceful communication protected by the Constitution,” she stated.
She appealed to President Tinubu to carefully consider the constitutional implications of the bill before deciding whether to sign it into law, stressing that legislation should promote justice, strengthen democracy and safeguard the constitutional liberties of all Nigerians while advancing legitimate road safety objectives.
