Plans have been concluded by the Federal Road Safety Corps to arraign popular TikTok content creator Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, over a road crash allegedly caused by distracted driving.
Expressing serious concern, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, warned that the increasing involvement of celebrities and social media influencers in unsafe driving practices poses a major threat to public safety.
The development followed the circulation of a viral video showing the influencer live streaming on TikTok while driving, an action the Corps said reportedly led to a traffic crash.
Confirming the decision in a statement released on Monday, the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the Corps Marshal described the act as illegal and highly dangerous.
According to Mohammed, engaging in live video streaming or other distracting activities behind the wheel is a clear violation of traffic regulations and could easily result in fatal accidents.
He noted that the incident highlights the reality that social status or online popularity does not place anyone above the law.
The FRSC boss said such reckless behaviour undermines national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities across the country.
Following the incident, Mohammed directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the Corps to immediately begin prosecution of the offender for reckless driving, distracted driving and the use of a mobile phone while driving.
He further appealed to entertainment industry bodies, influencer groups and content creator associations to help instil discipline among their members and encourage responsible conduct on public roads.
The Corps Marshal emphasised that public figures wield strong influence over young people and must therefore promote safety rather than dangerous behaviour.
Reaffirming the agency’s zero tolerance for traffic violations, Mohammed said the FRSC would apply the law without fear or favour against anyone found endangering lives on Nigerian roads.
He stressed that no social media trend or online content is worth the loss of human life and reminded motorists that highways are shared spaces governed by laws meant to protect all users.
The Corps also urged members of the public to report dangerous driving and support efforts to make Nigerian roads safer.
