The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised the alarm over the increasing involvement of celebrities, content creators, and social media influencers in dangerous road practices, warning that fame does not place anyone above the law.
In a press release issued on its official platforms, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, expressed deep concern over what he described as a growing trend of reckless road use by public figures who flout traffic regulations in pursuit of online attention.
His reaction followed a widely circulated video involving popular TikTok streamer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly 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 FRSC said could have led to loss of lives.
According to the Corps Marshal, the incident serves as a grim reminder that public roads are governed by laws meant to protect lives and that no level of popularity excuses dangerous behaviour.
He stressed that live streaming, recording content or engaging in any activity that distracts a driver while driving is a direct violation of existing traffic regulations and poses a serious risk to both the driver and other road users. Such actions, he noted, undermine national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities.
In line with this stance, Mohammed disclosed that he has directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to immediately activate all necessary processes for the prosecution of the individual involved. The offences listed include reckless driving, use of a phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.
The Corps Marshal also called on actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to urgently rein in their members and promote responsible conduct, particularly on Nigerian roads.
He noted that celebrities and influencers wield enormous influence, especially among young Nigerians, and must therefore be seen as ambassadors of safety rather than symbols of recklessness.
Mohammed 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.
“No social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life,” he warned.
He further reminded Nigerians that public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms but shared spaces governed by laws designed to preserve lives. Members of the public were encouraged to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts toward safer roads.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer highways across the country, stressing that road safety remains a shared responsibility that requires discipline, restraint and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.
The statement was signed by Olusegun Ogungbemide, Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Headquarters, Abuja.
