PFN Vows to Continue Bus Preaching Despite Proposed Law

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, led by Bishop Wale Oke, has expressed its determination to continue preaching in commercial buses, despite a proposed law that could lead to a N50,000 fine for such activities. The proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has sparked controversy due to its provisions on hawking, trading, and preaching in commercial vehicles. Bishop Oke, during an appearance on Channels Television's The Morning Brief, stated that Christians would rather obey God than man and would not be deterred by the proposed law. He emphasized that any restriction on public preaching would be a violation of their constitutional right to propagate their faith. The cleric described the proposal as an attack on Christians rather than a genuine effort to improve public safety. The Senate has since clarified that the amendment bill does not introduce a new prohibition on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles, but rather retains existing provisions. According to the Senate, the bill is focused on the safety of commuters and other road users and is not intended to undermine any religious activity in the public space. Bishop Oke remains resolute, saying 'We will preach in 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.' The PFN president's remarks were in response to the controversy surrounding the proposed law, which has been met with concerns from various stakeholders. The Senate has urged stakeholders to channel their concerns through the appropriate legislative process before the bill is passed.