The Senate has dismissed claims that the proposed amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act seeks to ban street preaching or introduce fresh restrictions on hawking, describing the reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of the bill currently before the National Assembly.

Amid growing public debate over a provision in the amendment bill relating to preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles, the upper legislative chamber clarified that the practices have long been prohibited under existing laws and were not introduced by the ongoing amendment process.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in the Office of the Senate Leader.

According to the Senate, the contentious provision has been part of Nigeria’s road safety laws for years. It pointed out that Section 10(4) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, alongside Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, already classifies preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles as traffic-related offences.

The Senate explained that the ongoing amendment merely relocates the provision from Item 36 of the Second Schedule of the 2007 Act to Item 49, without altering its substance or expanding its scope.

Responding to claims that the amendment targets religious activities, the Senate stressed that the bill should not be interpreted as an attempt to restrict preaching in public places or interfere with freedom of worship.

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“The Bill does not outlaw preaching on the streets as some interests have claimed in different fora,” the statement said.

It added that the provision is focused solely on ensuring the safety of passengers, drivers and other road users by discouraging activities that could cause distractions or create risks inside commercial vehicles.

The Senate also addressed reports linking Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, to the provision, stating that such claims are inaccurate. It noted that the amendment is a concurrence bill that originated in the House of Representatives and was transmitted to the Senate for consideration as part of the legislative process.

The clarification comes amid heightened public scrutiny of the proposed legislation, with lawmakers insisting that the amendment neither introduces a new offence nor seeks to curtail legitimate religious expression, but rather preserves existing road safety regulations aimed at protecting commuters across the country.