The Nigerian Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of preaching, hawking, or engaging in trading activities inside commercial vehicles.
Although, the bill has not yet become law, as it still requires presidential assent before it can take effect.
According to the Senate, the proposed amendment is designed to improve road safety by reducing activities that lawmakers. While stressing that preaching, selling goods, and other forms of solicitation inside buses can divert the attention of both drivers and passengers, increasing the risk of road accidents.
Supporters of the bill argue that commercial buses should primarily serve as safe means of transportation, rather than spaces for trading or religious activities. They maintain that limiting such activities will help create a calmer environment for drivers, improve passenger safety, and reduce unnecessary disruptions during transit.
Beyond the proposed ₦50,000 fine for preaching and hawking in commercial buses, the amendment also recommends tougher penalties for several traffic offences. Drivers who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breathalyser tests could face a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The proposed amendment also introduces significantly tougher penalties for several traffic offences. Drivers who disobey traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings, or other traffic control devices could face a ₦100,000 fine. Likewise, offences such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving would each attract a ₦100,000 fine. Also in addition, exceeding the speed limit, an offence that previously attracted a ₦5,000 fine, would now carry a ₦100,000 penalty.
However, the amended bill highlights 52 traffic offences and their applicable penalties as part of broader efforts to strengthen road safety enforcement across the country.
Lawmakers further added that the proposed changes aim to discourage dangerous driving habits, improve compliance with traffic regulations, and reduce the number of road crashes on Nigerian highways.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
