The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West Region, has raised objections to sections of the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to criminalise preaching and prohibit hawking in commercial vehicles.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Bishop Dr. Barnabas Akin-Akinsanya, the association said while it supports the Federal Government’s efforts to curb road crashes and improve safety, some provisions in the bill infringe on constitutional rights and threaten citizens’ livelihoods.

CAN South West said the government has a duty to guarantee public safety, but must equally respect freedoms of religion, conscience and expression as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

It warned that an outright ban on preaching in buses, without proof that it endangers road safety, risks being seen as an unjustified curb on religious liberty capable of stoking public tension.

The association also faulted the proposed ban on hawking in commercial vehicles, noting that many Nigerians rely on informal trading to survive.

It urged the government to instead focus on job creation, poverty reduction, better public transportation and improved security rather than measures that could deepen economic hardship.

CAN South West appealed to President Bola Tinubu to decline assent to the bill in its current form and called for broader consultation involving religious bodies, civil society groups, legal experts, transport unions and road safety professionals before any such law is passed.

“Nigeria needs laws that unite rather than divide, protect lives without unnecessarily restricting freedoms, and strengthen public confidence in democratic governance,” the association said, reaffirming its readiness to engage constructively with government on matters of justice, peace and national development.