The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has rejected provisions of the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act seeking to prohibit roadside preaching, insisting that the Christian body will continue its evangelical activities despite the proposed legislation.
On Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, PFN President Bishop Wale Oke stated Wednesday that Christians will continue evangelizing regardless of any enforcement of the proposed law.
Bishop Oke said the fellowship would not abandon its mandate to preach the gospel, describing the proposed restriction as inconsistent with the constitutional right to freedom of religion and expression. According to him, the PFN supports initiatives aimed at improving road safety but believes such measures should not infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerians.
“We will preach on buses. If they want to imprison us, let them come and arrest us. We are coming. We will preach in buses; they cannot stop us,” Oke declared.
He explained that the fellowship’s stance was informed by concerns that the proposed amendment could limit lawful religious activities, urging lawmakers to strike a balance between public safety and the protection of constitutional freedoms.
Bishop Oke called on the National Assembly to engage religious organisations and other critical stakeholders before taking a final decision on the bill, arguing that broader consultations would produce a more balanced and acceptable outcome.
“Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become prisons if you want to enforce that law. We are coming. We will preach inside buses; we will preach everywhere,” he said.
Lawmakers, as reported by CSONews24 , explained that the provision has been a part of the legislation since the FRSC Establishment Act of 2007. It was initially listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule and has been retained as Item 49 in the current amendment proposal.
The PFN maintained that its members would continue to carry out peaceful evangelism in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws, stressing that preaching remains a core aspect of the Christian faith. He added that the organisation would continue to advocate dialogue and constructive engagement with lawmakers as deliberations on the proposed amendment progress.
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