[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

We’ll email you as it develops, and you can follow the whole thread from day one.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

4 clusters · 18 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: POLITICS

Nigeria preaching ban controversy

Entities: Federal Road Safety Corps · Muslim Rights Concern · Pastor David Ibiyeomie · Professor Ishaq Akintola · Goodnews C. Nnadozie

Overview

The Senate’s amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, introduced in July 2026, seeks to criminalise preaching, hawking or trading inside commercial buses, imposing a ₦50,000 fine and up to six months’ imprisonment. Christian bodies—including the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Christian Council of Nigeria—have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent, arguing that the measure discriminates against Christians, breaches constitutional freedoms of religion and expression, and lacks demonstrable road‑safety benefits. The Muslim Rights Concern welcomed the proposal, citing safety and public‑order improvements.

On 26 July 2026 Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, condemned the amendment, calling it a “stupid law” that violates Nigerians’ constitutional right to practice religion. He noted that Muslims are already permitted to use loudspeakers in public, urged the government to prioritise insecurity, terrorism and poverty over restrictions on gospel preaching, and accused some Christian leaders of silence for political or financial reasons. The Senate has passed the amendment, and it now awaits presidential assent.

The bill remains under debate in the National Assembly and has not yet been signed into law.

Timeline

  1. 4 days ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Nigeria Pastor David Ibiyeomie condemns proposed bus preaching ban

    Pastor David Ibiyeomie slammed Nigeria's proposed bus preaching ban, calling it unconstitutional and urging focus on security and poverty.

  2. 5 days ago

    [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps Pushes Bill to Ban Preaching on Buses

    Nigeria's FRSC proposes a ban on preaching in buses; Muslim Rights Concern supports it for safety, while a CAN lawyer warns it may violate religious freedoms.

  3. 7 days ago

    [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Nigeria President Tinubu urged to block FRSC bill banning bus preaching

    Christian bodies in Nigeria ask President Tinubu to withhold assent to the FRSC amendment bill that would criminalise preaching in commercial buses, while a Muslim group backs the safety‑focused proposal; the b

  4. 12 days ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Nigeria President Tinubu Faces Opposition Over Bill Criminalising Preaching on Buses

    Nigeria's Senate passed an amendment criminalising preaching on commercial buses, prompting Christian groups to ask President Tinubu to veto the bill over concerns for religious freedom.

Sources

blueprint.ng · businessday.ng · dailytrust.com.ng · gistmania.com · gistreel.com · gwg.ng · naijanews.com · nationaldailyng.com · newtelegraphng.com · osundefender.com · pmnewsnigeria.com · punchng.com · theinterview.ng · thenicheng.com · thepodiummedia.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com · thisdaylive.com · tribuneonlineng.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history