IBADAN, Nigeria — President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has declared that Christians will continue preaching the gospel in commercial buses despite proposals in some quarters to prohibit religious preaching in public transportation.
Bishop Oke said evangelism remains a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith and cannot be abandoned because of attempts to restrict public preaching. He maintained that believers have a divine responsibility to spread the gospel peacefully and responsibly wherever opportunities exist.
Speaking on the growing debate over the proposed ban, the PFN president argued that preaching in commercial buses has, for many years, served as a means of reaching people who may not ordinarily attend church services. According to him, countless lives have been transformed through such evangelistic efforts, making it an important aspect of Christian outreach.
He stressed that while Christians should always conduct themselves with courtesy and respect for other passengers, they should not be prevented from sharing their faith. Bishop Oke noted that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, including the right to practise and propagate one’s faith without discrimination.
The PFN president said any attempt to prohibit peaceful religious preaching in public places must be carefully examined to ensure it does not infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens. He emphasised that Christians are committed to promoting peace, love and moral values through evangelism and have no intention of causing public disturbance.
Bishop Oke also called on government authorities to engage religious leaders and other stakeholders before introducing policies that could affect the exercise of religious freedom. He argued that dialogue remains the best approach to resolving concerns surrounding public preaching rather than imposing outright restrictions.
According to him, responsible evangelism should be encouraged because it contributes to moral development and social harmony. He urged preachers to conduct themselves with wisdom, avoid confrontational behaviour and ensure that their activities do not inconvenience commuters unnecessarily.
The PFN president further encouraged Christians not to be discouraged by ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed ban. He reaffirmed that the fellowship would continue supporting lawful evangelism while promoting peaceful coexistence among people of different religious backgrounds.
The debate over religious preaching in commercial buses has generated mixed reactions across the country. While some commuters have argued that unsolicited preaching can sometimes become disruptive, others insist that freedom of religion includes the right to publicly share one’s beliefs provided it is done peacefully and respectfully.
Legal experts have also pointed out that any regulation affecting religious activities must strike a balance between protecting individual rights and maintaining public order. They note that constitutional provisions on freedom of religion remain subject to laws designed to protect public safety, health and the rights of others.
Bishop Oke concluded by urging Christians to remain committed to evangelism while respecting the rights of fellow citizens. He said the church would continue to preach the gospel through peaceful means, expressing confidence that dialogue and mutual understanding would help address concerns surrounding religious activities in public spaces without undermining constitutional freedoms.
