International driving permits are not recognized in Nigeria, and all foreigners are required to obtain the Nigerian driver license.

The main Nigerian road traffic rules:

• Traffic moves on the right side of the road, overtaking is on the left side.
• The minimum driving age is 18 years.
• It is not permitted to leave vehicles on highways.
• It is prohibited to ride motorcycles against traffic and riding on the curb.
• While driving, it is not permitted to smoke and eat.
• Motorcycles riders and passengers must wear helmets.
• Drivers must give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout.
• The speed limit within towns is 40 km/h (25 mph).
• Persons under 18 years old may not ride motorcycles. The minimum driving age to ride motorcycles is 18 years. 
• A legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05 %. Any person driving under the influence of alcoholic drink or a drug may be imprisoned for two years.
• It is not permitted to carry on the motorcycle: pregnant women, children under 12, adults carrying load on their hands.
• While driving, making phone calls are prohibited if cell phone doesn’t have a hands-free system.
• It is not permitted to park within 15 meters of intersection.
• It is illegal to use noisy devices in the cities.
• It is not permitted to drive along the bus transit lane.
• Parking on yellow line on a public highway is illegal.
• Crossing a double yellow line is forbidden.
• Staying within the yellow junction boxes not permitted.
• At Zebra crossing, pedestrians always have the right of way.
• Installation of musical gadget on a motorcycle is illegal.
• Slow moving vehicles must keep to the right lane.
• Driving on the walkway and curbs is forbidden.
• Parking on the walkway and curbs is not permitted.
• Parking and stopping to pick passengers by a commercial vehicle on the highway is not permitted.
• Driving a vehicle with a defective number plate is illegal.
• Driving vehicles with doors left open is not permitted.
• Driving a right hand vehicle is not permitted.
• A fire extinguisher is required to be present in every vehicle.
• It is not permitted to stop a vehicle within 25 feet from any corner.

Additional information:

• Police check points are common on the Nigerian roads, but they cannot patrol road system fully.
• In many of Nigeria’s cities traffic is chaotic.  Nigerian driving style is usually fast and aggressive; Nigerian drivers can ignorant of traffic rules and regulations, for instance, across traffic lanes and speed through intersection.
• If a vehicle is left on the highway for an unreasonably long time, the vehicle will be removed to a vehicle park and owner must bear the cost of towing his vehicle.
• A police officer may arrest without warrant any driver of a motor vehicle on a highway unless the driver either produces his driver license to drive or other evidence of his identity.
• In the case of an accident, any driver must immediately stop his vehicle and give his name and address to a person to whom the injury has been caused. If an accident victim is unconscious, the driver must immediately report about an accident to the nearest police station and emergence. In other case, driver should report the accident within twenty-four hours to the nearest police station.
• Any person who uses a motor vehicle for a purpose other than that for which it is licensed is guilty.

 Driving Overseas - Short Information