Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed concern about a rising trend of dangerous road behaviour among celebrities, social media influencers, and content creators.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced plans to prosecute popular TikTok star Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, following a road traffic crash linked to his reckless driving.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed concern about a rising trend of dangerous road behaviour among celebrities, social media influencers, and content creators.
According to him, such actions not only put lives at risk but also undermine nationwide road safety initiatives.
The warning follows a video circulating online showing Peller live-streaming while driving, an act that reportedly led to a traffic accident.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Mohammed condemned the behaviour as unlawful and hazardous, emphasising that it could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities.
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 added that such actions undermine national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities.
As a result, he directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to begin prosecution processes against the individual involved.
According to him, the action would be for “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
The Corps Marshal also urged professional bodies and organizations within the entertainment industry to take responsibility for the actions of their members.
He called on actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to monitor their members and actively promote responsible conduct on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed emphasized that celebrities and influencers hold considerable sway, particularly over young Nigerians, warning that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Highlighting the consequences of unsafe driving, 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 added, “No social media content, online trend, or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
Reminding motorists of their responsibilities, Mohammed stressed that “public roads are not studios, stages, or streaming platforms,” noting that they are shared spaces governed by laws designed to protect lives.
He encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving and support collective efforts to make the nation’s roads safer.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safer highways, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring discipline, restraint, and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.