By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has advocated a minimum fine of N50,000 for traffic offences in Nigeria, saying the country’s current penalties are too insignificant to deter violations and have contributed to the nation’s poor road safety culture.
Oyeyemi made the call while delivering a lecture at the 12th Nigerian Transport Lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, with the theme: “Intermodal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth.”
The former FRSC boss argued that effective transportation safety cannot be achieved without a strong system of enforcement backed by meaningful sanctions.
According to him, many motorists deliberately violate traffic regulations because they know the penalties are minimal and can easily be paid without changing their behaviour.
“The fines are too small. The minimum fine should be N50,000. Penalties must be severe enough to discourage violations. If people know they will pay heavily for breaking the law, they will comply,” he said.
Oyeyemi explained that the principle of consequential management remains one of the strongest tools for improving compliance, stressing that offenders must face real consequences for dangerous driving.
He noted that the current system, where violators simply pay relatively small fines and immediately return to the roads, has failed to instill discipline among motorists.
“When people are arrested, they pay the fine and continue driving as if nothing happened. That does not change behaviour. The consequence must be serious enough to make people think twice before violating traffic regulations,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with practices in developed countries, Oyeyemi observed that traffic offences often attract much stiffer penalties, including suspension of driving licences, a development that automatically affects motorists’ insurance coverage.
He said such measures compel drivers to obey traffic rules because repeated violations come with significant financial and legal consequences.
“In many countries, once your licence is suspended, your insurance is affected. Here, once people pay a small fine, they simply return to the road. That is why compliance remains poor,” he said.
Beyond financial penalties, the former Corps Marshal urged government to strengthen enforcement institutions and eliminate selective application of traffic laws.
He lamented that many Nigerians who strictly obey traffic regulations abroad often disregard the same rules at home because they believe enforcement is weak and penalties are inconsequential.
According to him, Nigeria must cultivate a culture where obedience to transport regulations becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Speaking on the broader transport sector, Oyeyemi emphasised that transportation should serve as a catalyst for economic growth and national development, but warned that this objective cannot be realised without prioritising safety across all modes of transport.
He also urged state governments to replicate Lagos State’s investment in integrated transport infrastructure, particularly the Blue and Red Rail Lines, describing intermodal transportation as the future of urban mobility in Nigeria.
The transport safety expert further called for greater attention to road engineering, arguing that safer road designs, modern crash barriers and internationally accepted safety standards should accompany ongoing infrastructure development across the country.
He concluded by urging policymakers to prioritise transport safety reforms, warning that failure to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance would continue to cost the country lives and undermine economic productivity.
