MURIC backs FRSC bill to ban preaching, hawking in commercial buses

MURIC backs FRSC bill to ban preaching, hawking in commercial buses

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind a proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) bill seeking to prohibit preaching and hawking inside commercial buses, describing the move as a necessary step to improve road safety and maintain public order.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the proposed legislation was “a step in the right direction” and praised the FRSC for what he described as a proactive initiative aimed at reducing distractions that could lead to road crashes.

According to MURIC, preaching inside commercial vehicles distracts drivers, increasing the risk of accidents, while also creating situations capable of causing public disturbance among passengers.

The group argued that bus preaching is inconsistent with global best practices, noting that similar activities are not permitted in commercial public transport systems in major cities such as London, Paris and Frankfurt.

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Akintola said bus preachers frequently board intra-city, inter-city and interstate commercial buses, sometimes preaching throughout long-distance journeys, a practice he described as discourteous to passengers and potentially dangerous for road users.

He said MURIC’s support for the bill is based on two key considerations: the need to minimise driver distraction and the need to prevent conflicts that may arise from unsolicited religious activities in confined public spaces.

The Islamic rights organisation further stated that passengers often tolerate bus preaching despite finding it disruptive, adding that disagreements arising from such activities have, in some cases, led to altercations.

MURIC urged members of the National Assembly to expedite consideration of the proposed bill, citing Nigeria’s persistent road safety challenges.

The group referenced FRSC road crash statistics, which showed thousands of crashes, fatalities and injuries recorded across the country in recent years, arguing that measures capable of reducing distractions on the roads should receive legislative backing.

Akintola also observed that bus preaching is more commonly associated with Christian evangelists and called on Christian leaders and churches, particularly in the South-West, to discourage the practice among their members.

He maintained that preventing distractions capable of contributing to fatal road crashes should take precedence in efforts to improve road safety nationwide.

The proposed FRSC bill also seeks to prohibit hawking on highways and prescribes penalties for violations as part of broader efforts to enhance safety on Nigerian roads.

MURIC backs FRSC bill to ban preaching, hawking in commercial buses