Why we ban preaching, hawking on our buses –AUMTCO

The company added the ban on preaching and hawking in its buses was also expected to promote religious tolerance and unity among Nigerians.
The Head, Marketing and Communication of the company, Tunde Akintola, who made this known while talking to newsmen in Abuja, said the actions of preachers and hawkers in buses needed to be checked in order to arrest unwanted consequences.
He stressed that the objective of the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company was purely commercial, focused on aiding the mass movement of residents in Abuja and its environs. “So, preaching, hawking it’s just like a nuisance,” he added.
Continuing, he said, “That bus is not a platform for preaching and hawking, so we need to strictly face our business, when we give them the opportunity it can cause a friction between the religions, when a Christian comes around to preach, he might say a word not liked by someone, likewise a Muslim. This might cause a friction.
“If Muslims want to pray, they should go to the mosque, if the Christians want to pray they should go to church or any other gathering, but that place is not a platform for preaching.”
Akintola said such activities are not obtainable in developed communities.
Findings by City News revealed that on many occasions, the ban on preaching in the buses have led to heated disagreements between commuters and drivers.