By James Adamu
Commercial bus passengers who preach, hawk, or trade inside moving vehicles will now risk a ₦50,000 penalty, following the Senate’s passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The bill, which secured the Senate’s approval on Thursday, now heads to the Presidency for assent. Once signed, it will become an offence punishable by a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught selling goods, canvassing for business, or delivering religious sermons inside any commercial vehicle.
Senate sources said the measure is designed to curb commuter distractions and enhance safety on Nigerian roads.
“The constant movement of hawkers between buses and prolonged preaching sessions inside vehicles have become major safety hazards,” a lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent. “This bill addresses that directly.”
The legislation also overhauls penalties for other traffic violations. For instance, drunk driving — previously attracting a ₦5,000 fine — now carries a ₦100,000 penalty and a possible two-year jail term.
Similarly, motorists who refuse breathalyzer tests during FRSC stop-and-search operations will face either a ₦50,000 fine or six months in prison.
Speeding, reckless driving, and ignoring traffic signals have all been bumped up to ₦100,000 fines, with repeat offenders risking imprisonment.
In all, 52 traffic offences have been reviewed under the new bill, which the Senate says is part of a broader push to enforce road discipline and reduce crash-related deaths.
Public reactions have been divided. While some commuters and drivers applauded the move, hawkers and roadside vendors described it as a death sentence for their livelihoods.
“We are not criminals — we are trying to survive,” said Fatima Usman, who sells peanuts along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. “If this bill becomes law, what happens to my children?”
The Senate insists that public enlightenment campaigns will precede enforcement, should the President give his final approval.
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