Indian Drivers in Nigeria 2026: Keep Right, NGN 5,000 Fines
India
Nigeria
Carry an IDP from your RTO with the Indian licence and passport. Nigeria keeps right, motorways cap at 100 km/h (India: 120), FRSC fines speeding at NGN 5,000 plus 5 points, and the emergency number is 199 or 112.
Nigeria rewards a driver who arrives organised: papers in one wallet, a quiet first hour on the road, and no illusions about Lagos traffic. For an Indian visitor the biggest change is not the paperwork but the side of the road.
Licence and permit
Bring the Indian licence, your passport and an International Driving Permit issued by your RTO before you fly; it cannot be obtained in Nigeria. The permit serves as a recognised translation at rental desks and checkpoints. No Nigerian government page sets a separate rule for Indian licences. The closest official benchmark, GOV.UK’s advice for British drivers, allows a home licence for up to 3 months, then an international permit, and a Nigerian licence after a year. Plan a long stay around that, and test your own case in the Driving Permit Checker.
From left to right
India drives on the left; Nigeria drives on the right. Pulling away, joining a roundabout, judging the centre line and glancing for oncoming traffic are all mirrored, and the riskiest moment is the first day. Collect the car somewhere calm and check your road position at every turn until right-hand traffic stops feeling alien.
Limits: lower in town, lower on the motorway
| India | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Towns | 70 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural | 80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Motorway | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
The urban figure is the one to watch. Indian records show a town ceiling of 70; Nigeria’s is 50 km/h, and the gap invites a speeding notice in the first week.
What a ticket costs
The Federal Road Safety Corps sets one flat fine for a speed limit violation: NGN 5,000 and 5 penalty points. Its schedule also lists:
- Phone use at the wheel: NGN 4,000 and 4 points.
- No seat belt: NGN 2,000 and 5 points.
- Red light: NGN 2,000 and 2 points.
- Driving under alcohol or drugs: NGN 5,000 and 5 points.
- Dangerous driving: NGN 50,000 and 10 points.
The FRSC takes payment into a federal government account, either at a bank or through the Remita system, rather than in cash to the officer. India’s fines are quoted in rupees and run from INR 1,000 for a seatbelt or small excess, so the Nigerian scale is a different currency but a similar order of magnitude. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05, above India’s 0.03 on paper, but the only safe plan is not to drink before driving.
A plan for the first day
Fly into daylight if you can, and avoid collecting the car after a long night flight. At the rental desk, show the Indian licence, the permit and the passport together, then walk round the vehicle with the agent and photograph every panel. Check the spare tyre, the jack, the lights and the three items of equipment listed below. Programme your first route before you start the engine, and choose a wide, quiet road for the first stretch. Keep the permit, licence and passport in one pouch, because you may be asked for all three at a checkpoint.
The kit Nigeria expects
Nigeria requires a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a warning triangle in the car. India asks for the extinguisher and first aid kit too, with the triangle only recommended, so the one difference is the triangle. A hire car should have all three, but check before leaving the lot.
On the road
GOV.UK advises limiting travel after dark outside city centres and avoiding quiet, poorly lit roads, and warns that checkpoints, official and unofficial, are common. Keep documents to hand, slow down at every checkpoint, and allow extra time in Lagos congestion. Plan arrival in daylight at each stop, and keep the doors locked when stationary in traffic.
Emergency numbers
India’s 100, 101 and 108 will not connect. In Nigeria, dial 199 for the police, ambulance or fire service, or 112 as the general emergency number. Save both before you set off.
Wider rules are in the Nigeria driving guide, and the Speeding Fine Calculator covers other countries.
Sources
- Federal Road Safety Corps, offences and penalties (speed limit violation NGN 5,000 / 5 points; phone NGN 4,000 / 4; seat belt NGN 2,000 / 5; alcohol or drugs NGN 5,000 / 5; payment via bank or Remita): frsc.gov.ng
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Nigeria safety and security (UK licence up to 3 months, IDP for longer, Nigerian licence after a year; night travel, checkpoints): gov.uk
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Nigeria profile (50/80/100 km/h; 0.05 g/dl): who.int
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, India profile (0.03 g/dl): who.int
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
For a short visit, carry the Indian licence with an International Driving Permit from your RTO as a recognised translation, plus your passport. GOV.UK's rule for British drivers, the clearest official benchmark, is a home licence for up to 3 months and an IDP after that; long stays lead to a Nigerian licence.
Nigeria drives on the right, the opposite of India. This is the single biggest adjustment, so take your first hours on quiet roads before tackling Lagos or Abuja traffic.
WHO lists 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on rural roads and 100 km/h on motorways. The Federal Road Safety Corps fines a speed limit violation at NGN 5,000 with 5 penalty points.