The Senate has explained that the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Establishment Act does not introduce a new ban on preaching or hawking inside commercial vehicles, saying the offences have existed in Nigerian law for many years.
The clarification was made on Monday in a statement issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in the Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
According to the Senate, the provision making preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles an offence has been part of the FRSC Establishment Act since 2007 under Section 10(4) and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.
It explained that the offence was previously listed as Item 36 in the Second Schedule of the Act but now appears as Item 49 following the ongoing amendment.
The Senate said reports suggesting that the proposed amendment seeks to ban street preaching are false.
It stated that the law only concerns activities inside commercial vehicles and is aimed at protecting passengers and other road users by promoting safety on Nigerian roads.
It also explained that the amendment bill did not originate from the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
According to the statement, the proposal was first amended and passed by the House of Representatives before being forwarded to the Senate for concurrence, as required by the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate added that the legislative process has not been completed and that the amendment is still being considered.
It said individuals and groups with concerns about any part of the bill are free to present their views through the appropriate legislative channels before the process is concluded.
The upper chamber maintained that the amendment is focused on road safety and should not be interpreted as an attempt to stop lawful religious activities carried out outside commercial vehicles.
It also urged the public to rely on accurate information about the bill instead of misleading claims circulating in some quarters.
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