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Nigeria's Senate Approves 300% Increase in Traffic Fines
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Nigeria's Senate Approves 300% Increase in Traffic Fines

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The Nigerian Senate has passed amendments to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, significantly increasing traffic fines by up to 300%.
  • New penalties include a N50,000 fine for hawking or preaching in commercial vehicles and increased fines for offenses like drunk driving and speeding.
  • The amendments aim to curb recklessness, reduce road crashes caused by distractions, and strengthen the FRSC's enforcement capacity.

Nigerian motorists and commuters face substantially higher penalties for traffic offenses following the Senate's passage of amendments to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act. The revised legislation introduces stiffer penalties, with fines for several offenses reportedly increased by up to 300%.

A notable provision reinforces a N50,000 fine for individuals found hawking, preaching, or selling products inside commercial buses. This measure targets activities that often distract drivers and disrupt public transportation. Senators debated the bill, titled the Federal Road Safety Corps Act (Amendment), 2026, arguing that the increased penalties are essential to combat recklessness on Nigerian roads and mitigate crashes stemming from distractions.

"Our roads have become marketplaces and crusade grounds. This cannot continue. The penalties must hurt enough to change behaviour," one lawmaker stated during the plenary session. The amendments also target other serious offenses. Driving under the influence of alcohol, previously fined at N5,000, will now incur a N100,000 fine or a two-year prison sentence, or both. Similarly, offenses such as using a phone while driving, overloading, seatbelt violations, and driving without a valid license will also see significantly higher fines.

Failure to obey traffic lights and road signs, along with speed limit violations, will now attract a N100,000 fine. Reckless driving carries the same N100,000 fine and a potential two-year jail term. The Senate indicated that these revisions are intended to bolster the FRSC's capacity to enforce road safety laws effectively and protect lives. Transport operators and commuters, particularly in major cities like Abuja and Lagos where activities like hawking and preaching in buses are common, are expected to feel the impact of these changes most acutely.

Our roads have become marketplaces and crusade grounds. This cannot continue. The penalties must hurt enough to change behaviour.

— LawmakerA senator explains the rationale behind the significant increase in traffic fines during the debate on the FRSC Act amendment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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