The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has thrown its weight behind the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)’s proposed bill seeking to prohibit preaching and hawking in commercial buses, describing the initiative as a timely measure that would improve road safety and reduce avoidable road crashes.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organisation commended the FRSC for what it described as a proactive and visionary effort to protect lives on Nigerian roads.
According to MURIC, preaching inside commercial buses distracts drivers, increases the risk of road accidents and can also trigger public disturbances among passengers.
The group argued that bus preaching is inconsistent with international best practices, noting that such activities are not permitted in public transport systems in cities such as London, Paris and Frankfurt.
MURIC said many commercial bus passengers are compelled to endure unsolicited sermons, adding that the practice has, in some instances, resulted in altercations among commuters.
The organisation urged the National Assembly to expedite consideration and passage of the proposed legislation in view of the country’s high rate of road crashes.
Citing FRSC statistics, MURIC noted that Nigeria recorded 10,446 road crashes and 5,289 fatalities in 2025, while 9,570 crashes and 5,421 deaths were recorded in 2024. It stressed that reducing distractions for drivers should form part of broader efforts to improve road safety.
The group also observed that bus preaching is more commonly associated with Christian evangelists and appealed to church leaders, particularly in the South-West, to discourage the practice among their members.
MURIC maintained that curbing religious activities capable of distracting drivers would help reduce the loss of lives on Nigerian roads and foster safer public transportation across the country.
