The Federal Road Safety Corps has announced plans to prosecute a popular TikTok streamer, Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, following a road traffic crash linked to distracted driving.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, raised concerns over what he described as increasing reckless behaviour on the roads by some celebrities, content creators and social media influencers.
Mohammed’s reaction followed a viral video showing Peller engaging in a live video stream while driving, an act that reportedly resulted in a traffic crash.
In a statement signed by the corps spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Monday, the corps marshal described the act as unlawful and dangerous, warning 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 stated 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 noted that such actions undermine national efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Consequently, the corps marshal directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to commence prosecution of the individual involved.
According to him, the prosecution would be for “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
Mohammed also called on professional bodies in the entertainment industry to take responsibility for the conduct of their members, urging guilds, associations and influencer networks to promote responsible behaviour.
He warned that celebrities and influencers, who command strong followership among young Nigerians, “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
The corps marshal stressed that 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 added that “no social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life,” reminding motorists that “public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms.”
Mohammed encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving, as the FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to safer highways, stressing that road safety remains a shared responsibility for all road users.