The Senate has passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026, introducing tougher penalties for several traffic offences, including a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
The bill, which is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s assent, also increases fines for several road traffic offences, with some penalties rising by as much as 300 percent.
The amendment is aimed at improving compliance with traffic laws, reducing road accidents and strengthening the enforcement powers of the FRSC.
The proposed legislation, titled the Federal Road Safety Corps Act (Amendment), 2026, was first read in the Senate on July 1, 2026.
Under the bill, anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses will be liable to a ₦50,000 fine.
Lawmakers said the provision is intended to reduce distractions inside commercial vehicles and improve passenger safety.
If signed into law, the amendment will affect the common practice of traders and religious preachers boarding commercial buses in many parts of the country.
The bill also imposes stiffer sanctions on motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs.
Offenders now face a ₦100,000 fine, up from the previous ₦5,000, and may also be sentenced to up to two years in prison, or both.
The law applies to anyone found driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs beyond the legal limit or in a condition that affects their ability to properly control a vehicle.
