The Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing significantly higher penalties for a range of traffic offences, including a ₦50,000 fine for hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
The bill, which is awaiting presidential assent, also provides for a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both, for motorists who fail to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion.
The legislation, titled the Federal Road Safety Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (HBs. 1401 & 1604), was first read in the Senate on 1 July 2026.
Under the amended Act, anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside a commercial vehicle will be liable to a ₦50,000 fine. Lawmakers said the provision was introduced to reduce distractions in public transport and improve passenger safety.
The bill also increases the penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000. Offenders may also face up to two years’ imprisonment, or both a fine and imprisonment.
The legislation states that any person found driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs above the legal limit, or to such an extent that they are incapable of exercising proper control of a vehicle, commits an offence.
Motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC personnel conducting preliminary roadside breath tests on reasonable suspicion will also be liable to a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
Other penalties have also been substantially increased. Failure to obey traffic lights, road signs, road markings or other traffic control devices will now attract a ₦100,000 fine. Similarly, speeding offences, previously punishable by a ₦5,000 fine, will now carry a ₦100,000 penalty.
Reckless driving will also attract a ₦100,000 fine, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both.
The amended legislation revises the schedule of offences under the Act, listing 52 traffic violations and their corresponding penalties. According to the Senate, the changes are intended to strengthen the FRSC’s enforcement powers, improve compliance with traffic regulations and enhance road safety across the country.
During debate on the bill, senators argued that stricter sanctions were necessary to address persistent traffic violations and unsafe driving practices on Nigerian roads.
The proposed penalties are expected to have a significant impact on commercial transport operators and commuters, particularly in major cities where hawking and preaching inside commercial vehicles are common.
