By Nkechi Eze
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has raised strong concern over what he described as a disturbing rise in reckless road use by some celebrities, content creators and social media influencers who deliberately violate traffic rules in pursuit of online attention, often at the expense of public safety.
The warning followed a widely circulated video involving a popular TikTok streamer, Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, who was seen engaging in a live video stream while driving. The unlawful act reportedly resulted in a road traffic crash, an incident the Corps Marshal said could easily have led to loss of lives and serious injuries.
In an official statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC boss stressed that fame or public visibility does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse behaviour that endangers lives on public roads. He described the incident as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by distracted driving, particularly when amplified by social media influence.
The Corps Marshal stated categorically that live streaming, recording, content creation or any form of distraction while driving constitutes a clear violation of existing traffic regulations. Such actions, he said, pose grave risks not only to the driver but also to other innocent road users, while undermining national efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Consequently, he directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to immediately activate all necessary processes to prosecute the individual involved. The prosecution, he noted, would cover offences including reckless driving, use of a phone while driving and distracted driving, in line with extant traffic laws.
Beyond the specific incident, the Corps Marshal called on actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks and content creator communities to urgently rein in their members and promote responsible conduct, especially on Nigerian roads. He emphasised that celebrities and influencers wield enormous influence, particularly among young Nigerians, and must therefore serve as ambassadors of safety rather than symbols of recklessness.
He warned that the FRSC would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any individual, celebrity or otherwise found engaging in distracted or reckless driving. According to him, no social media content, online trend or fleeting moment of clout is worth the loss of a human life.
The Corps Marshal further reminded Nigerians that public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms, but shared spaces governed by laws designed to protect lives. He encouraged road users to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts aimed at making the nation’s highways safer.
Reaffirming the Corps’ mandate, he stated that the FRSC remains resolute in its commitment to safer roads, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility that demands discipline, restraint and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.
