The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has raised alarm over what he called a rising trend of reckless driving among some celebrities, content creators, and social media influencers, cautioning that such behaviour endangers lives and undermines road safety initiatives.
The warning followed a widely circulated video showing popular TikTok streamer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, live streaming while driving. The incident reportedly led to a road traffic accident.
Reacting to the incident, Mohammed, in a statement signed by the corps spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide on Monday, condemned the act as illegal and hazardous, highlighting that it could have resulted in fatalities.
He stated that the episode “serves as a grim reminder that fame does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse dangerous behaviour on public roads.”
Mohammed emphasised that “live streaming, content creation, recording, or any activity that distracts a driver while on the road is a direct violation of established traffic regulations and poses serious risks not only to the driver but also to other road users.”
He added that such behaviour undermines national efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Consequently, he directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to initiate prosecution against the individual involved.
According to him, the charges would cover “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
The corps marshal also urged professional bodies and associations within the entertainment sector to hold their members accountable.
He called on actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to guide their members and promote responsible conduct on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed noted that celebrities and influencers wield significant influence, especially among young Nigerians, and warned that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
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He cautioned that the FRSC “will not hesitate to enforce the full weight of the law against anyone, celebrity or otherwise, found engaging in distracted or reckless driving.”
Mohammed stressed that “no social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
He further reminded drivers that “public roads are not studios, stages, or streaming platforms,” describing them as shared spaces governed by laws designed to protect lives.
Mohammed encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving and support collective efforts to improve road safety.
The FRSC reiterated its commitment to safer highways, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility that demands discipline, restraint, and respect for the law from all road users.