Naija Driver 2026: Nationwide Free Driving Challenge Begins To Promote Road Safety
A nationwide driving competition aimed at improving driving standards and promoting road safety has commenced in Nigeria with the launch of the inaugural Naija Driver 2026.
The initiative, organised by Notch Captains Limited under the Approval in Principle and Safety Frameworks of the Automobile & Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), in collaboration with the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI), will offer eligible motorists free driver education, safety screening and testing.
ATCN is the Nigerian representative of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
According to a statement signed by the Director of Media, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations of the Naija Driver 2026 Organising Committee, Ingram Osigwe, the initiative is designed to combine driver education, public enlightenment and practical competition to promote safer road use across the country.
Registration and safety screening for the challenge commenced on September 1, 2026, through the initiative’s digital learning portal.
The competition is open to licensed Nigerian residents between 18 and 65 years of age. Participants will undergo a structured learning and assessment programme before advancing to the practical stages.
The organisers said participants would have access to digital learning materials covering defensive driving, road-use regulations, crash-site management, emergency victim stabilisation during the critical “Golden Seconds” and preventive vehicle maintenance.
The online learning phase will culminate in a Unified National Computer-Based Test scheduled for October 2026.
The test will be conducted simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, giving motorists nationwide an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of road safety and driving regulations.
Speaking on the competition, Project Director and Managing Director of Notch Captains Limited, Adrian Egonu, said a decentralised verification system would be deployed to strengthen identity checks and minimise the logistical challenges associated with a nationwide competition.
Egonu said the three highest-scoring candidates from each state and the FCT would advance to the next stage, where they would undergo document verification and practical screening in their respective locations in October.
The eventual champions from the states and the FCT will then proceed to Lagos for the national finals scheduled for November 7 to 10, 2026.
At the finals, contestants will participate in live-action driving tests designed to assess their practical driving competence.
The tests will focus on vehicle-handling agility, chassis control and emergency-braking precision, with the activities expected to be conducted before a live and televised audience.
The organisers said the practical component would highlight the importance of competence, discipline and quick decision-making, particularly when motorists are confronted with emergency situations.
Beyond the competition, Naija Driver 2026 will feature advocacy and social-impact activities aimed at increasing public awareness of Nigeria’s road-safety challenges.
As part of the programme, the organisers will also host an Executive Road Safety Advocacy Gala Night, bringing together representatives of state governments and senior executives of major Nigerian conglomerates.
The organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to improving driving culture, strengthening road-safety awareness and encouraging greater responsibility among motorists across Nigeria.
