Bus Preaching Distracts Drivers, Can Lead to Breach of Peace — MURIC Backs FRSC Bill

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has backed the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) bill seeking to ban preaching and hawking inside commercial vehicles, saying the practice distracts drivers and could threaten public peace.

MURIC made its position known while reacting to the proposed legislation currently before the National Assembly.

The FRSC recently introduced a bill aimed at prohibiting preaching and hawking inside commercial buses as part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce distractions that could contribute to traffic accidents.

In a statement issued on Saturday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the proposed legislation as a timely and commendable initiative.

He said the organisation fully supports the bill, arguing that it would promote orderliness and discipline in public transportation.

According to Akintola, allowing passengers to preach inside commercial vehicles creates unnecessary distractions for drivers, increasing the likelihood of road crashes with potentially fatal consequences.

He also warned that religious preaching in confined public spaces could trigger disagreements among passengers and lead to breaches of public peace.

“This is a step in the right direction. With emphasis on bus preaching, we commend FRSC for this proactiveness. The whole idea is not only visionary but also precautionary and constructive. Preaching inside the bus is most uncivilized and discourteous,” Akintola said.

He explained that MURIC’s support for the proposed law is based on two major concerns.

“We support the FRSC bill for two main reasons. Bus preaching distracts drivers, thereby leading to accidents with the attendant deaths and injuries.

“Secondly, bus preaching constitutes conduct likely to cause breach of public peace. Our lawmakers need to urgently attend to the FRSC bill in view of the high proliferation of road crashes in the country,” he added.

Akintola urged members of the National Assembly to give priority attention to the bill to ensure its speedy passage into law.

He maintained that the legislation would contribute significantly to improving safety on Nigerian roads while fostering peaceful coexistence among commuters with different religious beliefs.

The proposed FRSC legislation has generated public debate, with supporters arguing that it would reduce distractions and enhance road safety, while critics contend that it could raise concerns about freedom of expression and religious practice in public spaces.

The National Assembly is expected to consider the bill as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen road safety regulations across the country.