The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed the prosecution of popular TikTok streamer Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, following a road traffic crash linked to distracted driving.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, expressed concern over what he described as a rising trend of reckless road behaviour among celebrities, content creators, and social media influencers, warning that such actions endanger lives and undermine national road safety efforts.
The directive came after a widely circulated video showed Peller live streaming while driving, an act that reportedly led to a crash.
In a statement signed by the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Mohammed described the behaviour as unlawful and dangerous, noting that it could have resulted in loss of life.
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 emphasized 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 hinder efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities nationwide.
Consequently, the Corps Marshal instructed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to commence prosecution against Peller.
The charges will include “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws,” he stated.
Mohammed also called on professional bodies in the entertainment industry to take responsibility for their members’ conduct. He urged actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to promote responsible behaviour on Nigerian roads.
Highlighting the influence celebrities have on young Nigerians, he warned that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Issuing a firm warning on enforcement, Mohammed 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.”
The Corps Marshal reminded motorists that “public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms,” emphasizing that they are shared spaces governed by laws designed to protect 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, noting that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring discipline, restraint, and respect for the law by all road users.