Claim: Facebook users posted a claim alleging that Nigeria has banned preaching in commercial buses.
Verdict: Misleading. The claim is misleading because it presents a proposed legislative amendment as an existing ban.
Full Text
A Facebook user, Olugbenga Adepoju, shared a claim (archived here) alleging that the Senate had banned preaching inside buses.
He wrote, “Senate bans bus preaching claiming it distracts the driver. So the music he is playing at defeating volume does not distract him?”
Several users who commented on the post expressed similar views. Akinbusoye Henry said, “I wonder o o. They don’t know what to do to make Nigeria move forward.”
Babatope Kemi wrote, “They think they can frustrate God’s agenda for salvation; it’s too late. The church has been built, and the gates of hell can never prevail.”
Other Facebook users also shared similar claims in separate posts, here, here, here and here.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim because of its religious connotation and the potential to mislead the public about Nigeria’s laws on preaching in commercial vehicles and road obstruction.
Verification
On July 16, 2026, news reports stated that the Senate had passed a bill proposing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses. The provision was part of a broader amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission Act and was reported to be awaiting presidential assent. This means the proposed restriction was not yet a law or an enforceable ban at the time of the Facebook post.
Other proposed penalties in the bill relate to offences such as drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, and traffic-light violations.
The Senate also refuted claims that Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele initiated the controversial provision. It clarified that the legislation is a concurrence bill originating from the House of Representatives and requires the Senate’s concurrence before the legislative process can be completed. The Senate added that the amendment process is still ongoing.
DUBAWA also checked the Federal Road Safety Corps‘ existing list of traffic offences and found that “Preaching or Hawking in Commercial Vehicle” is already listed as an offence. The FRSC also lists “Road Obstruction” as a traffic offence.
While this amendment has scaled the Senate, it has not become law because for the legislative process to be complete, it must receive presidential assent before it can become an Act. Therefore, as of Aug. 7, 2026, it was inaccurate to describe the proposal as an existing ban.
Therefore, the Facebook post’s use of the word “bans” is inaccurate in the context of the Senate’s recent action.
Conclusion
The claim that the Nigerian Senate has banned preaching on buses but refused to ban road-blocking for prayers is misleading.
DUBAWA found that the Nigerian Senate passed a bill proposing a ₦50,000 fine for preaching, hawking or trading in commercial buses. However, the proposal had not yet become law as of Aug. 7, 2026, as it was still awaiting presidential assent. The proposed provision also does not specifically target Christian preaching.