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FRSC Identifies Three Major Traffic Violations by Motorists
By Ahmed Rahma
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has declared that the corps will embark on aggressive enforcement of traffic regulations in 2021 and beyond.
This was stated by the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, via a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Bisi Kazeem on Sunday.
The FRSC chief disclosed that this move was sequel to the mass return movements of road users from the end of the year activities, coupled with the review of the operational activities by the FRSC, as part of the end of year special patrol into 2021.
He noted that the agency had identified three major traffic offences which the personnel must enforce sporadically and which motorists must guide against in the new year.
The Corps Marshal listed the three identified offences as overspeeding, overloading and non-adherence to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols, both in vehicle and at the motor parks.
According to him, the identified traffic offences were the outcome of the review of crashes and fatality rates recorded during the Christmas and new year operational activities by the Corps.
He added that the FRSC would remain unrelenting in its commitment to achieving the goals of the ‘Safer Road Environments’ in the new year and beyond.
Mr Oyeyemi further explained that the identified offences would form part of the core areas that the FRSC patrol teams would beam their operational searchlights in the new year.
He said overspeeding played a central role in most of the fatal crashes recorded during the festive periods, adding that enforcement of speed limiting devices would not be compromised in the new year.
Mr Oyeyemi pointed out that overloading of vehicles with goods and passengers would not be accepted by the corps as well as non-adherence to the COVID-19 protocols in terms of social distancing.
“The corps is worried that with the threats of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and across the world, everyone must be made to adhere strictly to the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force (PTF).
“Everyone should obey all the traffic rules and regulations in the interest of our collective safety and public health,” he said.
The FRSC boss warned motorists to desist from all traffic violations that could endanger their lives and those of other road users.
Mr Oyeyemi, who added that FRSC was impressed with the orderly conduct of some of the drivers in the new year operations, urged them to sustain the good driving habits for the safety and security of all road users and members of the public.
He reassured members of the public that the FRSC would remain vigilant on the nation’s highways, as travellers were returning to their homes after the Christmas and new year celebrations and also urged motorists to show consideration for one another while using the road, and wished all Nigerians safety and a prosperous new year.
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Senate Passes Bill to Sanction Trading, Preaching in Buses
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A bill aimed at prohibiting hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles in Nigeria has been passed by the Senate.
The bill known as the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, imposes fines between N50,000 and N100,000 for violations if assented to by the President.
The piece of legislation was passed by the red chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday and should later be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Members of the upper chamber of the parliament explained that the law was amended to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and improve the safety of commuters.
In addition, motorists who fail to cooperate with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion are liable to fines or imprisonment or both.
Lawmakers noted that this was to improve compliance with road safety regulations and reduce road crashes, as fines for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs were raised to N100,000 from N5,000, with the risk of spending two years behind bars.
It was also proposed that disobedience to traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices will now attract N100,000, while the fine for speed limit violations is now N100,000, with reckless driving now a fine of N100,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
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Company Gets Ultimatum to Stop Indiscriminate Truck Parking on Aina Obembe Road Baruwa
By Dipo Olowookere
Residents and motorists plying the Aina Obembe Road in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, may soon heave a sigh of relief as the excruciating traffic gridlock being experienced in the area both day and night may soon be a thing of the past.
This is because the chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, has directed those involved in indiscriminate truck parking along the road to remove the heavy-duty vehicles within one week, threatening to invoke appropriate enforcement measures for noncompliance with this directive.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with the management of SENA Company, which owns the affected trucks, as well as the leadership of Oluwadara CDA and other key stakeholders like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the council’s secretariat, Mr Agbaje frowned at the prolonged inconvenience suffered by the community, stressing that public roads must remain accessible and safe for all users.
He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in resolving the issue without undermining legitimate business operations, noting that he’s focused on finding a lasting solution to the gridlock experienced between Oluwaga and Aina Obembe, where parked trucks have continued to obstruct traffic, disrupt business activities, and pose safety concerns for residents and motorists.
He tasked the firm and the CDA to jointly identify and implement alternative parking arrangements that would remove all trucks from the affected roads and restore the free flow of traffic.
He declared that, “The welfare of our people remains our highest priority. No individual or corporate organisation should obstruct public infrastructure or create avoidable hardship for residents. We must ensure that economic activities coexist with public safety, order, and convenience.”
The council chief reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting orderly development, ensuring safe and accessible roads, improving traffic management, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive alongside the well-being of residents.
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FG Rolls Out Green Tax, Cuts Vehicle Import Levies
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has cut import levies on new and used vehicles by as much as 10 per cent in a move aimed at reducing the cost of vehicle importation, even as it commenced the implementation of a new Green Tax surcharge.
According to an update issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
The customs said the policy is designed to ease the cost of vehicle imports while advancing the government’s environmental sustainability objectives through the newly introduced Green Tax.
The implementation also reduces the overall import duty on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 per cent to 40 per cent.
As part of the Green Tax framework, a new environmental surcharge of between two per cent and four per cent will apply to petrol-powered vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc. However, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and passenger cars with engines below 2,000cc are exempt from the surcharge.
Beyond the automobile sector, the fiscal measures also lower import duties on several essential goods. The duty on imported rice has been reduced from 70 per cent to 47.5 per cent, while crude palm oil now attracts a 28.75 per cent duty.
In addition, import duties on agricultural and manufacturing machinery have been completely removed to support local production, while Waste PET has been added to the export prohibition list to encourage domestic recycling.


