NCGF Urges Tinubu to Reject Bill Banning Religious Preaching in Commercial Vehicles
The Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent to the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, citing concerns over a provision that seeks to prohibit religious preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles.
In an open letter dated July 21, 2026, and signed by the Fellowship’s National President, Prof. Ashong Ashong, alongside the Director of Politics and Good Governance, Deacon Majemite Onosode, the group argued that while road safety is a legitimate government objective, the proposed legislation could infringe on constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion and expression.
The Fellowship commended the Federal Government’s commitment to improving road safety but maintained that any law enacted to achieve that objective must remain consistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the NCGF, criminalising peaceful religious preaching in commercial vehicles could disproportionately affect Christian evangelism, which it described as a fundamental obligation of the Christian faith.
The group cited Sections 38, 39 and 42 of the Constitution, arguing that the rights to freedom of religion, expression and protection from discrimination would be undermined if the bill becomes law in its current form.
It also expressed concern that the provision could be selectively enforced against certain religious groups, warning that unequal application of the law could create constitutional and human rights challenges.
Rather than imposing a blanket prohibition, the Fellowship proposed alternative measures aimed at promoting road safety without restricting religious freedoms. These include banning activities that distract drivers, prohibiting excessive use of loudspeakers inside moving vehicles, penalising harassment of passengers, and sanctioning any conduct that endangers the safe operation of commercial vehicles, regardless of whether it is religious, political, commercial or social.
The NCGF urged President Tinubu to return the bill to the National Assembly for further review and broader consultations involving religious leaders, constitutional experts, civil society organisations, transport unions and road safety professionals.
The Fellowship said such engagement would help produce legislation that protects road users while preserving the constitutional rights of all Nigerians.
Copies of the open letter were also addressed to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
