Nigerian Lawmakers Criticised Over N50,000 Fine for Preachers in Road Safety Bill
A proposed amendment to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) legislation has drawn sharp criticism for including provisions that would impose a N50,000 fine on preachers, a measure described in a newspaper commentary as insensitive to the state of religious affairs in the country. The criticisms were published in This Day and aggregated by AllAfrica.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is currently before the National Assembly in Abuja, contains clauses that would penalise religious preaching or roadside evangelism in ways that critics say criminalise ordinary religious expression. According to the commentary by Ejiofor Alike, the proposed fines demonstrate a lack of regard by federal lawmakers for the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
Broader religious tensions
The bill has surfaced at a time when the federal government is facing allegations of persecution of Christians, a charge that has featured prominently in national debate and in diplomatic exchanges between Nigeria and some of its Western partners. Critics of the bill, as reported by AllAfrica, argue that introducing penalties targeting preachers in road safety legislation is both legally questionable and politically out of step with the moment, particularly as the country navigates questions about freedom of religion and the rights of religious minorities.
About the agencies involved
The Federal Road Safety Corps is the lead agency responsible for road traffic management and safety in Nigeria, established in 1988 and headquartered in Abuja. Its core mandate has traditionally been the regulation of drivers, vehicles, and road infrastructure. The agency’s enabling law has been amended several times over the years, but the inclusion of provisions regulating preaching along highways has been a notable departure from earlier versions of the statute.
The National Assembly, Nigeria’s bicameral legislature, consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both chambers are currently considering the amendment as part of a broader review of the FRSC’s legal framework. This Day, one of Nigeria’s leading privately owned newspapers, is based in Lagos and has long covered legislative and political affairs in the country.
Outlook
It remains unclear whether the controversial clauses will be retained, amended, or removed as the bill moves through committee review and subsequent readings. Civil society groups and religious associations have previously weighed in on similar legislation, and public commentary on the present bill is likely to continue as it progresses through the legislative process.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
