The Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing stiffer penalties for a range of traffic violations, including a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
The legislation, which is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s assent, seeks to strengthen road safety enforcement by increasing fines and jail terms for offences considered major contributors to road accidents and unsafe driving practices.
Among the key provisions of the bill is a clause making it an offence to engage in hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses. Anyone found guilty under the proposed law would be liable to a ₦50,000 fine upon conviction.
According to lawmakers, the provision is intended to reduce distractions in commercial vehicles, improve passenger safety and promote order during public transportation.
The amendment also introduces stricter sanctions for motorists who refuse to comply with roadside breath tests conducted by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps where there is reasonable suspicion of alcohol impairment. Offenders would be liable to a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The bill further raises the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances from the current ₦5,000 fine to ₦100,000. Convicted offenders could also face up to two years’ imprisonment or both a fine and custodial sentence.
Motorists who disregard traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices would equally face a ₦100,000 fine under the proposed legislation.
Similarly, the penalty for exceeding prescribed speed limits has been increased from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000, while reckless driving would also attract a ₦100,000 fine, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
The revised legislation contains a comprehensive schedule of 52 traffic offences and the penalties attached to each, representing one of the most extensive reviews of sanctions under the FRSC Act in recent years.
The Senate said the amendment is aimed at enhancing the enforcement capacity of the Federal Road Safety Corps, encouraging greater compliance with traffic laws and reducing the alarming rate of road crashes across the country.
If signed into law by President Tinubu, the amended Act will usher in tougher enforcement measures and significantly higher penalties for traffic offenders as part of broader efforts to improve safety on Nigeria’s highways.
(Ripples)
