PFN president rejects proposed ban on preaching in commercial vehicles

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, has declared that the proposed legislation seeking to prohibit unsolicited religious preaching in commercial vehicles will not stop Christians from preaching across the country.

Addressing a congregation on Sunday, Oke criticised the National Assembly over the proposed bill, insisting that evangelism is a divine mandate that cannot be suspended by any law.

“Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become prisons; if you want to enforce that law, we are coming. We will break that law. Our Master told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. You sit somewhere there, and you are saying we shouldn’t preach in buses.

“We will preach in buses! We will preach everywhere! Because you are making evil decrees. We will rather obey God than man,” he said.

The PFN president accused lawmakers of focusing on restricting religious activities instead of addressing pressing security challenges such as killings, kidnappings and banditry.

He also warned that those promoting the bill would face God’s judgment, insisting that Christians would continue to preach despite any legal restrictions.

Oke’s remarks come amid growing opposition from Christians over the proposed legislation, which prescribes penalties for individuals who preach or engage in unsolicited religious activities inside commercial vehicles.

The Senate recently passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles as part of amendments to the FRSC Act and National Road Traffic Regulations.