The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has raised alarm over a rising trend of reckless road use by celebrities, content creators, and social media influencers, warning that such behaviour endangers lives and undermines road safety initiatives. The warning follows a widely circulated video showing popular TikTok creator Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, live-streaming while driving, an act that reportedly caused a road traffic crash. In a statement signed by FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide on Monday, Mohammed condemned the behaviour as unlawful and dangerous, noting that it could have resulted in loss of lives. He said the incident “serves as a grim reminder that fame does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse dangerous behaviour on public roads.” Mohammed stressed that “live streaming, content creation, recording or engaging in any activity that distracts a driver while driving is a direct violation of established road traffic regulations and poses grave danger not only to the driver but to other innocent road users.” He added that such actions undermine national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities. Consequently, he directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to initiate prosecution against the individual involved, citing “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.” The corps marshal also called on professional bodies and entertainment industry groups to take responsibility for their members. He urged actors guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to enforce responsible behaviour on Nigerian roads. Mohammed emphasised that celebrities and influencers, who wield significant influence over young Nigerians, “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.” Warning of strict enforcement, he said the FRSC “will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any individual, celebrity or otherwise, found engaging in distracted or reckless driving.” He stressed that “no social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life.” He further reminded motorists that “public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms,” describing them as shared spaces governed by laws designed to preserve lives. Mohammed encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts to make roads safer. The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to safer highways, stating that road safety “remains a shared responsibility that requires discipline, restraint, and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.”
