No More Preaching in Danfos: Senate Passes FRSC Bill Proposing ₦50k Fine for Bus Preachers, Hawkers

In a legislative move set to completely change the daily experience of commuters across Nigeria, the Nigerian Senate has officially passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026.

The amended legislation, passed during a plenary session on Thursday, July 16, 2026, targets long-standing commercial transit habits by introducing a strict ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of preaching, hawking, or trading inside public transport vehicles.

If signed into law by the President, the act will criminalize the popular culture of morning sermons and spontaneous retail sales inside commercial buses, popularly known as danfos or luxurious buses.

Why the Crackdown on Bus Preachers and Hawkers?

According to the Senate, these activities inside moving vehicles pose serious, overlooked security and safety hazards. Lawmakers argued that passengers and drivers deserve a transit environment free from unnecessary distractions.

“The provision was specifically designed to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and significantly improve the safety of commuters during transit.” — Senate Committee on Road Safety

The ban on hawking and preaching is just one of 52 updated traffic violations listed in the revised bill. The primary goal is to overhaul road safety enforcement, curb high casualty rates on Nigerian highways, and give the FRSC stronger teeth to prosecute offenders.

Massive Fines: Drunk Driving, Recklessness, and Breath Tests

The FRSC Amendment Bill, 2026, introduces a massive increase in penalties across several major traffic offenses, shifting from lenient slap-on-the-wrist fines to serious financial and custodial punishments.

Under the newly passed schedule:

Speeding & Recklessness: Violating speed limits (previously ₦5,000) or driving recklessly now carries a flat ₦100,000 fine. Reckless drivers also risk up to two years of jail time.

Refusing Breathalyzer Tests: If an FRSC officer stops you on “reasonable suspicion” of being intoxicated and you refuse to cooperate with a roadside breath test, you will face a ₦50,000 fine, six months in prison, or both.

Drunk Driving: The penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs has been exponentially raised from a mere ₦5,000 to ₦100,000, with offenders risking up to two years behind bars.

Key Penalty Increases Under the New 2026 Bill

The table below outlines the massive jump in penalties compared to the previous traffic laws:

Traffic Offense	Previous Penalty	Proposed Penalty (2026 Bill)	Additional Prison Term
Hawking/Preaching in Buses	None	₦50,000	N/A
Refusing FRSC Breath Test	None	₦50,000	Up to 6 months
Drunk Driving (DUI)	₦5,000	₦100,000	Up to 2 years
Speed Limit Violation	₦5,000	₦100,000	N/A
Disobeying Traffic Lights/Signs	Varies	₦100,000	N/A
Reckless Driving	Varies	₦100,000	Up to 2 years

What Happens Next?

The Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has successfully scaled all legislative hurdles in both chambers of the National Assembly. It has now been sent to the desk of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The bill will officially become the law of the land once the President grants his executive assent. For millions of daily commuters and motorists across Nigeria, the message from the Senate is clear: reform your road habits, or prepare to pay heavily.