PFN President Wale Oke Vows Christians Will Continue Preaching in Buses Despite FRSC Bill Controversy

PFN President Wale Oke Vows Christians Will Continue Preaching in Buses Despite FRSC Bill Controversy

Wale Oke Vows Christians Will Continue Preaching in Buses Despite FRSC Bill

PFN President Bishop Wale Oke has vowed that Christians will continue preaching in commercial buses despite controversy over the FRSC Amendment Bill 2026.

PFN President Wale Oke Rejects Bus Preaching Restriction

The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, has strongly opposed the controversial provision concerning preaching inside commercial vehicles, declaring that Christians will continue to evangelise despite any attempt to enforce restrictions.

Oke made his position known while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he addressed growing public debate surrounding the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The controversy has generated significant reactions from religious leaders and members of the public, particularly over a provision concerning preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles.

Oke maintained that Christians would not abandon public evangelism because of the proposed legal restriction.

According to the PFN president, believers have a religious obligation to preach the Christian faith and would continue to do so even if those activities attracted legal consequences.

He declared that Christians would rather obey God than man, arguing that restricting public evangelism could amount to an infringement on the constitutional right to practise and propagate religion.

The cleric's comments have added a fresh dimension to an already heated national debate over the balance between religious freedom, public safety and regulation of activities inside commercial vehicles.

Wale Oke: “We Will Preach in Buses”

During his television appearance, Oke expressed his determination to resist any attempt to prevent Christians from preaching inside buses.

He argued that evangelism is central to the Christian faith and insisted that believers would not stop preaching simply because lawmakers introduced or retained restrictions affecting commercial vehicles.

The PFN leader also repeated the position he had previously expressed in a viral video while addressing members of his congregation.

In that video, Oke declared that Christians would continue preaching in buses and other public places, regardless of attempts to enforce the restriction.

His comments have since attracted widespread attention as Nigerians debate whether preaching inside commercial vehicles should be treated primarily as a religious freedom issue or as a road-safety and public-order matter.

The controversy has also raised questions about how existing regulations should be interpreted and enforced without unnecessarily interfering with constitutionally protected religious activities.

PFN President Says Christians Have a Constitutional Right to Evangelise

Oke argued that Christians have a constitutional right to practise and propagate their religion.

He said the right to evangelise should not be removed through legislation aimed at regulating activities inside commercial vehicles.

The PFN president described the proposed restriction as part of what he views as a broader pattern of policies that could negatively affect Christian activities.

He stressed that Nigeria is a religiously diverse country and should continue to accommodate people of different faiths.

His argument has placed religious liberty at the centre of the controversy, although the Senate has rejected suggestions that the legislation is designed to target Christianity or restrict religious activities generally.

What the FRSC Amendment Bill Says About Preaching in Buses

The debate surrounding the issue intensified after reports emerged that the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026 contains a provision prescribing a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

The provision has triggered reactions from religious leaders and other stakeholders who fear that its enforcement could affect religious evangelism in public transportation.

However, the Senate has sought to clarify what the bill actually does.

According to the Senate, the controversial provision is not a new prohibition introduced by the 2026 amendment bill.

The upper chamber said a similar restriction has existed since the enactment of the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007, where it appeared as Item 36 of the Second Schedule.

The Senate explained that the provision was later retained as Item 49 in the proposed amendment.

It also referred to Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, as part of the existing legal framework surrounding activities inside commercial vehicles.

The Senate's explanation is important because public discussion has often described the issue as though lawmakers had suddenly decided to introduce a new nationwide ban on preaching.

The Senate, however, says that interpretation is inaccurate.

Senate Says Bill Is About Road Safety, Not Religion

In its clarification, the Senate said the provision should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine religious activities or street preaching.

Rather, lawmakers said the regulation is connected to the safety of passengers and other road users.

The Senate stated that the measure is intended to address activities inside commercial vehicles and is not designed to prevent religious activities in public spaces generally.

That distinction is at the heart of the ongoing controversy.

While Bishop Wale Oke and other critics have interpreted the provision as a threat to Christian evangelism, lawmakers have maintained that the objective is related to transportation safety and the orderly use of commercial vehicles.

The disagreement therefore goes beyond the question of whether Christians should preach.

It also involves questions about how religious expression should coexist with regulations governing commercial transportation.

Senate Clarifies Origin of the FRSC Bill

The Senate also addressed another issue that emerged during the controversy: the sponsorship of the amendment bill.

The upper chamber clarified that the bill was not sponsored by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, contrary to claims circulating in some quarters.

According to the Senate, the legislation originated in the House of Representatives and was transmitted to the Senate as a concurrence bill.

The Senate further explained that the legislative process was still ongoing.

It urged individuals, religious organisations and other stakeholders who have concerns about the legislation to make their views known through the appropriate legislative channels before the process is concluded.

This means the controversy is not necessarily the end of the legislative discussion.

Stakeholders still have an opportunity to engage lawmakers and present arguments about the potential impact of the provision.

Why the Controversy Has Become a Major National Debate

The dispute over preaching in buses has attracted attention because it touches on two issues that are highly sensitive in Nigeria: religious freedom and public safety.

For religious organisations such as the PFN, evangelism is a fundamental part of Christian practice.

For road-safety authorities and lawmakers, however, commercial vehicles are regulated spaces where activities that could distract drivers, interfere with passengers or obstruct movement may need to be controlled.

The challenge is finding a balance between these competing interests.

A regulation designed to improve passenger safety could generate concerns if it is interpreted too broadly.

At the same time, religious freedom does not necessarily mean that every form of religious activity can take place without regard to generally applicable safety regulations.

That is why the ongoing legislative process and any eventual interpretation of the provision will be closely watched by religious organisations, transport operators, lawmakers and the wider public.

Wale Oke’s Position Remains Firm

Despite the Senate's clarification, Bishop Wale Oke has maintained his opposition to any attempt to prevent Christians from preaching in commercial buses.

The PFN president believes evangelism should continue and has publicly declared that Christians would not abandon the practice because of the proposed restriction.

His remarks have already generated considerable discussion across Nigeria, with supporters and critics expressing different views about the appropriate limits of religious expression in commercial transportation.

For supporters of Oke's position, preaching is a legitimate expression of religious freedom.

For others, commercial buses are primarily meant to transport passengers safely, and activities inside vehicles should be regulated where they may affect safety, comfort or order.

The debate is therefore likely to continue as lawmakers consider the bill and stakeholders present their positions.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is now on the legislative process.

The Senate has urged concerned individuals and organisations to use the appropriate channels to communicate their objections or recommendations before the bill is passed.

This could provide an opportunity for religious organisations, civil society groups, transport unions, legal experts and other stakeholders to examine the provision and make recommendations.

The final outcome will determine how the controversial provision is interpreted and implemented.

Until then, claims that a completely new law has already banned preaching throughout Nigeria should be treated carefully.

The Senate's clarification indicates that the disputed restriction has roots in existing road-traffic regulations, while the current amendment process has brought the issue back into the national spotlight.

The controversy over preaching inside commercial buses has exposed a complicated intersection between religious freedom, road safety and government regulation in Nigeria.

Bishop Wale Oke and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have made it clear that they strongly oppose any restriction they believe could prevent Christians from evangelising in public spaces.

The Senate, however, insists that the disputed provision is not a newly created attack on Christianity or a general ban on religious activities. Instead, lawmakers say the provision relates to safety inside commercial vehicles and has existed within Nigeria's legal framework for years.

With the legislative process still ongoing, the issue is likely to remain a major topic of public discussion.

The most important question now is whether lawmakers and stakeholders can find a solution that protects passenger safety while also respecting Nigeria's constitutional protections for religious practice and expression.

FAQ....

Is preaching in commercial buses banned in Nigeria?

The controversy concerns a provision regulating preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles. The Senate has clarified that the provision is not a new ban introduced by the 2026 amendment and said similar restrictions have existed since the 2007 FRSC law.

What did Bishop Wale Oke say about preaching in buses?

PFN President Bishop Wale Oke said Christians would continue preaching in buses despite any attempt to enforce a restriction. He argued that believers have a religious duty to evangelise.

What is the proposed fine for preaching in commercial vehicles?

Reports surrounding the FRSC Amendment Bill, 2026, have cited a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.

Does the FRSC bill ban street preaching everywhere in Nigeria?

The Senate has specifically rejected claims that the bill is intended to ban street preaching or restrict religious activities in public spaces generally. It says the disputed provision concerns activities inside commercial vehicles.

Who sponsored the FRSC Amendment Bill 2026?

The Senate said the bill originated in the House of Representatives and was transmitted to the Senate as a concurrence bill. It also clarified that it was not sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

Why is Bishop Wale Oke opposing the provision?

Oke believes restrictions on preaching in public transportation could interfere with Christians' ability to propagate their faith. He has maintained that Christians should continue evangelising.

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