The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has declared that Christians will not stop preaching the gospel in commercial buses despite a proposed amendment to the law that seeks to penalise such activities.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, insisted that believers would continue evangelising in public transport even if it resulted in arrests or imprisonment.
According to him, Christians have a divine obligation to spread the gospel and would not abandon that responsibility because of any legislation.
“We will continue to preach in buses. If they choose to arrest or imprison us, so be it. We must obey God rather than men,” the cleric declared.
Oke, who leads Sword of the Spirit Ministries International, maintained that preventing Christians from preaching in commercial vehicles would amount to an infringement on their constitutional right to freely practise and propagate their faith.
He also defended remarks made in a viral video, where he vowed that Christians would continue public evangelism regardless of any legal restrictions.
The PFN President argued that the proposal appeared to
single out Christians instead of addressing genuine road safety concerns, adding that Nigeria remains a country where citizens of different faiths should enjoy equal religious freedoms.The controversy follows public debate over the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes sanctions, including a ₦50,000 fine, for individuals convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
However, the Senate has clarified that the bill does not introduce a fresh ban on preaching or hawking in buses. Lawmakers explained that similar provisions have existed since the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007, and were retained in the current amendment bill, alongside relevant provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.
The upper legislative chamber also stressed that the proposed legislation is intended to enhance the safety of commuters and other road users rather than restrict religious activities in public spaces.
The Senate further noted that the amendment bill originated in the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate for concurrence. It urged religious bodies and other stakeholders to engage the legislative process by submitting their concerns before the bill is passed.
#WawaReporters #PFN #BishopWaleOke #FRSC #NationalAssembly #Christianity #ReligiousFreedom #NigeriaNews #PublicSafety #BusPreaching
