Nigerian Senate Increases Traffic Fines by 300 Percent

The Senate of Nigeria passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Thursday, introducing significantly stiffer penalties for 52 traffic violations to modernize enforcement and reduce road crashes. The legislative overhaul increases fines for various offenses by as much as 300 percent.

Under the new rules, reckless driving, speeding, and failure to obey traffic lights or road signs now carry fines of N100,000. The penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has risen from N5,000 to N100,000 or a two-year prison sentence. Motorists who refuse roadside breath tests face a N50,000 fine and up to six months of imprisonment.

To reduce commuter distractions, the bill introduces a N50,000 fine for individuals trading, hawking, or preaching inside commercial buses. The legislation has been transmitted for presidential assent before it can take effect across the country.