Senate Approves Higher Penalties for 52 Traffic Offences Under Proposed FRSC Act Amendment
The Nigerian Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing significantly higher penalties for 52 traffic offences as part of efforts to improve road safety and strengthen compliance with traffic regulations nationwide. However, the legislation has not yet become law and is still awaiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent before the new penalties can take effect.
The amendment seeks to modernise the FRSC Act by introducing tougher sanctions for offences considered major contributors to road crashes and unsafe driving. Lawmakers said the existing penalties no longer serve as an effective deterrent due to changing economic realities and the increasing rate of traffic violations.
Among the key changes is a proposed ₦100,000 fine for motorists who fail to obey traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings or other traffic control devices, a significant increase from the previous penalties. The Senate believes stricter punishment will encourage greater respect for traffic regulations and reduce accidents on Nigerian roads.
The bill also proposes raising the penalty for speed limit violations to ₦100,000, while reckless or dangerous driving would equally attract a ₦100,000 fine, with offenders also facing up to two years’ imprisonment or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
For motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs, the proposed law increases the fine from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000. Convicted offenders could also face a prison term of up to two years or both a fine and imprisonment, reflecting the Senate’s determination to discourage impaired driving.
Another notable provision targets motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests. Under the amendment, anyone who declines to undergo a preliminary breath test based on reasonable suspicion could be liable to a ₦50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The Senate also introduced a new offence aimed at reducing distractions in commercial vehicles. Anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside a commercial bus would face a ₦50,000 fine under the proposed legislation. Lawmakers argued that such activities distract drivers, obstruct passengers and increase safety risks during journeys.
According to the revised schedule attached to the amendment, the bill updates penalties for 52 different traffic offences. Other offences affected by the review include the use of mobile phones while driving, overloading, seat belt violations, driving without a valid licence and several documentation-related offences, although the full breakdown of all 52 revised penalties has not yet been officially published in a consolidated schedule.
Senators said the amendment is intended to strengthen the FRSC’s enforcement powers, improve compliance with road safety laws and ultimately reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on Nigerian highways. They maintained that stiffer penalties would encourage more responsible behaviour among motorists and other road users.
Despite its passage by the Senate, the amendment is not yet in force. The bill must receive presidential assent from President Bola Tinubu before it becomes law. Until then, the current FRSC traffic offence penalties remain applicable, and motorists cannot be sanctioned under the proposed fines.
If signed into law, the amendment would represent one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s road traffic penalty regime in recent years, with authorities hoping the tougher sanctions will improve discipline on the roads and save lives through better compliance with traffic regulations.
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