International Driving Permit Nigeria

Nigeria requires foreign visitors to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their original licence — the FRSC has stated directly that a foreign licence alone isn't permitted for use on Nigerian roads.

• Section 82 of the National Road Traffic Regulations doesn't recognize a foreign driving licence on its own for driving in Nigeria.Commonly reported
• An IDP alongside your original licence is what the FRSC requires foreign visitors to carry.Commonly reported
• Your IDP validity can't exceed the validity of your underlying home-country licence, regardless of the IDP's own printed expiry.Commonly reported
• Nigeria drives on the right, with the driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle.Commonly reported

Road conditions and traffic patterns in Nigeria call for real preparation — heavy congestion in Lagos, poorly lit roads after dark, and safety equipment that's legally required in your vehicle.

• A fire extinguisher and an emergency warning triangle are required by law to be carried in the vehicle.Commonly reported
• Most roads lack lighting at night, and driving after dark is meaningfully more hazardous than during the day.Commonly reported
• Lagos traffic can produce severe congestion lasting hours during rush periods, so timing your driving outside peak hours is worth planning for.Commonly reported
• During the rainy season, roughly May to October, flash flooding can significantly worsen road conditions.Commonly reported
• Police checkpoints are a routine, common part of driving in Nigeria — slowing down, remaining polite, and having your documents accessible is standard practice.Commonly reported

Self-drive car rental is available at Lagos's Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with Port Harcourt also serving major providers for business travel.

• The legal minimum driving age is 18, and most rental providers accept drivers from that age, though a young-driver surcharge can apply under 25.Commonly reported
• Murtala Muhammed International Airport's rental desks are located at Arrivals D and E in the International Terminal.Commonly reported
• Typical documents requested at pickup are your original licence, an IDP, your passport, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.Commonly reported
• Check that your rental includes a spare tyre, jack, and emergency kit before you drive off, since road conditions outside major urban centres can be demanding.Commonly reported
• Fuel stations are widely available in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, but become less reliable in rural areas, so it's worth topping up before leaving a city.Commonly reported

Keep your original driving licence and your International Driving Permit together as your standard document set any time you're driving in Nigeria.

• Your original licence and your IDP should be kept together and accessible at all times while driving.Commonly reported
• 112 is Nigeria's national toll-free emergency number, connecting to police, fire, and medical response on any network.Commonly reported
• 122 is the Federal Road Safety Corps' dedicated number for road-related emergencies.Commonly reported
• At a police checkpoint, slowing down, remaining calm and polite, and keeping your documents ready is standard, widely recommended practice.Commonly reported