Naija Driver 2026: Nationwide Free Driving Challenge Targets Safer Roads

The inaugural Nigerian Drivers Challenge, Naija Driver 2026, has been launched to promote safer driving practices through free driver education, testing and road-safety awareness across Nigeria.

The initiative is being organised by Notch Captains Limited under the Approval in Principle and Safety Frameworks of the Automobile & Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), the sole representative of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI).

In a statement signed by Ingram Osigwe, Director of Media, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations of the organising committee, registration and safety screening will commence free of charge on September 1, 2026, through the programme’s digital learning portal.

The challenge is open to licensed Nigerian residents aged 18 to 65. Participants will receive 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 training will culminate in a Unified National Computer-Based Test scheduled for October 2026, with participants taking the examination simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Project Director and Managing Director of Notch Captains Limited, Adrian Egonu, said a decentralised verification system would be adopted to strengthen identity checks and ease logistical challenges.

According to him, the three highest-scoring candidates from each state and the FCT will undergo document verification and practical screening in their respective locations before the state champions proceed to Lagos for the final driving tests from November 7 to 10.

The final competition will assess vehicle-handling agility, chassis control and emergency-braking precision before a live and televised audience.The organisers will also hold an Executive Road Safety Advocacy Gala Night, while charity visits to hospitals treating road-crash victims will form part of the initiative’s social-impact programme.

Osigwe urged motorists, fleet managers, transport unions and e-hailing operators to participate in the free training and testing programme.