By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Osun State House of Assembly has introduced a controversial bill that proposes stringent penalties including up to six months in prison or a ₦250,000 fine for individuals caught roller skating on public roads or sidewalks within the state.
Titled the Osun State Skating Restriction Bill 2025, the legislation was debated during a committee of the whole session at Tuesday’s plenary.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, who also chaired the committee, defended the bill, stating that roller skating should be restricted strictly to indoor spaces due to safety and public order concerns.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), “Anybody or persons who skates or uses roller skates on public roads or sidewalks shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or alternative sentencing of payment of sum not less than ₦250,000 or both,” Egbedun said.
He further explained that the proposed law would empower ordinary citizens to apprehend offenders and hand them over to the police for prosecution.
The bill, if passed, will give both magistrate and high courts in Osun State the jurisdiction to try such offences.
Public reaction to the bill has been mixed, with some citizens raising concerns over its harsh penalties and potential misuse, while others have welcomed the move as a necessary step to maintain public safety and sanity on the roads.
The Assembly has yet to announce when the bill will go for its final reading and passage.
