By Stephen Simon
The Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing a sharp increase in penalties for traffic offences in a move aimed at improving road safety and reducing reckless driving across the country.
The amendment, which awaits presidential assent before becoming law, raises fines for several traffic violations by as much as 300 per cent. Lawmakers said the existing penalties had become outdated and no longer served as an effective deterrent against dangerous driving and other road traffic offences.
Among the major changes contained in the bill is an increase in the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000. Offenders may also face up to two years’ imprisonment, or both a fine and a jail term, upon conviction.
The bill also prescribes a ₦100,000 fine for offences such as speeding, reckless driving, disobeying traffic lights, road signs and lane markings. It further empowers FRSC officials to conduct roadside breath tests, while motorists who refuse to cooperate may be fined ₦50,000 or sentenced to up to six months’ imprisonment.
In addition, the legislation retains a ₦50,000 penalty for hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles, with senators arguing that such activities distract drivers and endanger passengers. They stressed that Nigerian roads should not be turned into marketplaces or places of worship while vehicles are in motion.
During debate on the bill, lawmakers maintained that stronger sanctions were necessary to curb persistent violations and reduce the high number of road crashes recorded annually across the country. They expressed confidence that stiffer penalties would encourage greater compliance with traffic regulations and improve public safety.
If signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, the amended FRSC Act will introduce one of the most comprehensive revisions of Nigeria’s traffic penalty regime in recent years, significantly strengthening the legal framework for road safety enforcement nationwide.
