In what appears to improve road safety and strengthen traffic regulations,the Senate on Thursday passed an amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act,( Amendment Bill,2026 which proposes stiffer penalties for a range of traffic offences.
One of the highlights of the provisions of the amendment bill is the introduction of a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who fail to obey traffic lights, road signs, road markings, or other traffic control devices.
The proposed amendment also prescribes a ₦50,000 fine for individuals caught hawking, street trading, or preaching inside commercial buses.
The bill further seeks to impose stiffer sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs. If signed into law, offenders could face a ₦100,000 fine, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, replacing the current ₦5,000 penalty in the existing Act.
The amendment also targets speeding and dangerous driving. Speed limit violations would attract a ₦100,000 fine, while reckless driving could be punished with a ₦100,000 fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
The proposed amendment, according to the lawmakers is designed to modernise the FRSC Act, strengthen the Corps’ enforcement powers, and promote greater adherence to traffic regulations in a bid to reduce road crashes and improve safety on Nigerian roads.
However, the bill, has not yet become law as it is being transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
