Nigeria’s Senate has approved a far-reaching amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, proposing significantly stiffer penalties for a wide range of traffic-related offences as part of efforts to improve road safety and strengthen compliance with traffic regulations.

Among the key provisions of the amendment bill is a proposed ₦100,000 fine for motorists who fail to obey traffic lights, road signs, road markings or other traffic control devices. The legislation also introduces a ₦50,000 penalty for individuals found hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial buses.

The bill further seeks to overhaul existing sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs. If signed into law, offenders could face a ₦100,000 fine, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction—an increase from the current ₦5,000 penalty contained in the existing law.

In addition, drivers who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests carried out on reasonable suspicion of intoxication could be liable to a ₦50,000 fine, a six-month prison sentence, or both.

The proposed legislation also targets speeding and dangerous driving. Speed limit violations, which currently attract relatively modest fines, would carry a ₦100,000 penalty under the amendment. Likewise, reckless driving would attract a ₦100,000 fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.

Lawmakers said the amendment is intended to modernize the FRSC Act, strengthen the Corps’ enforcement authority and encourage greater adherence to traffic laws in a bid to reduce road crashes and improve safety for all road users.

Although the Senate has passed the bill, it has not yet become law. The proposed amendment must receive presidential assent before the new penalties and enforcement measures can take effect nationwide.