The Christian Association of Nigeria, South-West Region, has urged President Bola Tinubu not to assent to the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, expressing concerns over provisions that seek to restrict preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles.
The association said it supported government efforts to improve road safety and reduce avoidable crashes but maintained that such measures should not infringe on citizens’ constitutional rights or worsen the economic challenges facing Nigerians.
The Chairman of CAN, South-West Region, Bishop Dr Barnabas Tunde Akin Akinsanya, made the position known in a statement issued on behalf of the association.
CAN said it was particularly concerned about provisions prescribing sanctions for preaching in commercial buses and the proposed ban on hawking in such vehicles.
The association stated, “While government has a constitutional responsibility to ensure public safety, it also has an equal obligation to uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression.”
It argued that any legislation capable of limiting fundamental freedoms must be subjected to careful scrutiny to ensure that it is necessary, proportionate and consistent with constitutional principles.
According to the association, a blanket restriction on religious preaching in commercial buses, without sufficient evidence that such activities pose a direct threat to road safety, could be perceived as an unnecessary limitation on religious freedom.
CAN warned that such a provision could also create public tension and called for wider consultation before the bill becomes law.
The Christian body also raised concerns about the proposed prohibition of hawking in commercial vehicles, noting that many Nigerians depend on informal trading as a means of livelihood.
It said, “Many Nigerians depend on legitimate informal trading for their daily survival.
Rather than adopting measures that may further worsen economic hardship, government should prioritise policies that create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, improve public transportation, strengthen security, and enhance the welfare of citizens.”
CAN therefore appealed to the President to withhold assent to the bill in its current form and initiate further consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The association recommended the involvement of religious organisations, civil society groups, legal practitioners, transport unions and road safety experts in discussions on the proposed legislation.
It said such engagement would help develop a legal framework capable of improving road safety without undermining the rights and dignity of citizens.
CAN stated, “Nigeria needs laws that unite rather than divide, protect lives without unnecessarily restricting freedoms, and strengthen public confidence in democratic governance.”
The association reaffirmed its commitment to engaging constructively with government and other stakeholders in promoting justice, peace, constitutional democracy and national development.
The statement was electronically signed by Bishop Dr Barnabas Tunde Akin Akinsanya, Chairman of CAN, South-West Region.
