CAN Urges Tinubu to Reject FRSC Amendment Bill

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-west zone has formally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent to the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This bill, recently passed by the Senate, includes sanctions for preaching in commercial buses, which religious leaders have labeled as anti-Christian, and it also prohibits hawking in such vehicles.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Bishop Barnabas Tunde Akinsanya, CAN expressed support for the government's road safety initiatives but raised concerns that the bill's provisions could infringe on constitutional rights related to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression. The association warned that banning hawking could exacerbate economic hardships for many Nigerians reliant on informal trading.

CAN called for broader consultations with stakeholders, including religious organizations and civil society, to create legislation that promotes road safety while respecting constitutional rights. The association emphasized the need for laws that foster national unity and public confidence in governance.