Who Drives Best? Naija Driver 2026 Opens Free National Search for Driving Champion

A new nationwide driving competition designed to combine driver education with practical skills testing is set to begin in September, with organisers targeting safer roads and a reduction in crashes linked to human error.

‘Dubbed Naija Driver 2026’, the inaugural Nigerian Drivers Challenge is being organised by Notch Captains Limited under the Approval in Principle and Safety Frameworks of the Automobile & Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), the country’s sole representative of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI).

The organisers said the initiative, which will be conducted free of charge, is aimed at creating a new culture of responsible motoring by giving licensed Nigerian drivers access to structured road-safety education, testing and practical driving assessment.

Registration and safety screening for the competition will open on September 1, 2026, through its digital learning portal. The programme is open to licensed Nigerian residents aged between 18 and 65.

According to a statement signed by Ingram Osigwe, Director of Media, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations of the organising committee, participants will undergo online training covering defensive driving, road-use regulations, crash-scene management, emergency victim stabilisation during the critical “Golden Seconds” and preventive vehicle maintenance.

The training will lead to a Unified National Computer-Based Test in October, with candidates expected to sit for the examination simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Project Director and Managing Director of Notch Captains Limited, Adrian Egonu, said the competition would use a decentralised verification system to ensure credible identity checks while eliminating the logistical difficulties associated with moving large numbers of candidates across the country.

Under the arrangement, the three highest-scoring candidates from each state and the FCT will undergo document verification and practical screening in their respective locations in October.

The successful state and FCT champions will then converge on Lagos for the final live-action driving competition scheduled for November 7 to 10.

The final stage will test the contestants’ vehicle-handling agility, chassis control and emergency-braking precision, with the driving trials conducted before a live and televised audience.

Beyond the competition, the organisers plan to use the platform to promote emergency response awareness among motorists, particularly on what ordinary road users can safely do during the crucial first moments after a crash before professional responders arrive.

An Executive Road Safety Advocacy Gala Night will also be held ahead of the final driving trials, bringing together government representatives and senior executives of major Nigerian conglomerates to endorse a national highway safety advocacy pledge.

The initiative is also expected to deepen motorists’ understanding of vehicle insurance and risk protection through presentations by leading motor insurance institutions.

As part of its social-impact component, the organisers said official charity visits would be made to hospitals where road-crash victims are undergoing rehabilitation.

Gender inclusion is another major component of the competition, with organisers encouraging more women to enter and compete alongside their male counterparts.

The organisers have also partnered with Skinetics Med Spa on a “Glam n Drive” package, which will feature gifts and vouchers for participants throughout the tournament, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Osigwe urged individual motorists, corporate fleet managers, transport unions and e-hailing operators to take advantage of the free training and testing opportunities when the official portal becomes operational.

He said the ultimate objective was to ensure that Naija Driver 2026 goes beyond crowning a champion to create a nationwide pool of better-trained, safety-conscious and responsible motorists.

With the competition slogan, “Drive. Compete. Lead,” the organisers said Naija Driver 2026 would seek to demonstrate that driving excellence is not merely about speed or vehicle control, but also about knowledge, discipline, emergency preparedness and respect for other road users.

Don’t Fight EV Fires Yourself, Fire Service Tells Motorists

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has warned that Nigeria’s growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles is creating new emergency-response challenges that require specialised firefighting skills, equipment and safety protocols.

The Lagos Command of the FFS said conventional firefighting techniques may not be sufficient when dealing with alternative-energy vehicles, particularly electric vehicles whose lithium-ion batteries can remain hazardous long after flames have been extinguished.

Chief Superintendent of Fire, Badmus Abdulsamad, gave the warning while presenting the command’s preparedness strategy for EV and CNG emergencies at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) in Lagos.

Abdulsamad explained that although battery-electric vehicles were statistically less likely to catch fire than conventional petrol-powered vehicles, EV fires presented unique dangers because of the lithium-ion battery systems.

He said one of the most serious risks was thermal runaway, a self-sustaining chemical reaction that generates intense heat and can spread rapidly from one battery cell to neighbouring cells.

According to him, a damaged battery could continue to burn, release toxic and potentially explosive vapours, produce projectile hazards and reignite hours or even days after an incident appeared to have been brought under control.

He noted that EV fires could occur while vehicles were in motion, parked or undergoing charging, with possible triggers including road crashes, penetration of battery packs by debris, previous mechanical damage, extreme weather conditions and charging-system faults.

The fire officer stressed that tackling an EV fire was fundamentally different from fighting a conventional vehicle fire.

“Firefighters must focus heavily on cooling the battery pack to prevent thermal runaway from spreading,” he said, adding that large volumes of water could be required for prolonged periods.

He warned that the risk did not end after the vehicle was towed away, as damaged EVs could reignite at towing yards, storage facilities or even fire stations.

Another major concern, he said, was the high-voltage electrical system, which could remain dangerous even after a crash. Burning lithium-ion batteries could also emit toxic and corrosive substances, including hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

The FFS therefore advised EV owners to use certified charging equipment, maintain their battery systems properly, avoid battery damage and minimise exposure of vehicles to extreme heat.

The Service also urged motorists to maintain safe distances when parking EVs close to buildings and warned members of the public against attempting to extinguish battery fires themselves.

“Members of the public should evacuate immediately and alert emergency responders,” Abdulsamad advised.

CNG vehicles pose separate risks

The FFS also drew attention to the distinct hazards associated with CNG-powered vehicles, particularly the high-pressure cylinders used to store compressed gas.

Abdulsamad explained that pressure-relief devices installed on CNG cylinders are designed to release gas when pressure rises to dangerous levels. However, he warned that improper intervention during a fire could worsen the situation and potentially result in cylinder rupture and powerful blast effects.

He noted that CNG fires could produce pale blue flames that are difficult to see despite generating extremely high temperatures.

Emergency responders, he said, must not approach leaking or damaged CNG cylinders without appropriate protective equipment, specialised training and a proper risk assessment.

They must also eliminate possible ignition sources and remain alert to the possibility of cylinder failure, he added.

CNG motorists were advised to install only authorised conversion kits and cylinders through certified dealers or service centres. They were also urged to subject cylinders, regulators, pipelines and electrical systems to regular inspection to detect leaks, deterioration and other faults capable of triggering fires.

Motorists were further advised to avoid prolonged parking under direct sunlight and to keep smoking and naked flames away from CNG-powered vehicles.

In the event of a CNG vehicle fire, occupants should evacuate immediately, move to a safe distance and inform emergency responders that the vehicle is CNG-powered.

They were also warned against approaching the gas cylinders or attempting to fight the fire themselves.

FFS boosts emergency-response capacity

Abdulsamad said the FFS was strengthening its ability to respond to emerging fire risks through the deployment of rapid intervention vehicles, fire bikes, fire trucks and hydraulic platforms.

He disclosed that firefighters were undergoing local and international training in basic and advanced firefighting, rescue operations and breathing-apparatus procedures.

The Lagos Command is also collaborating with state and private fire services, the Nigerian Ports Authority fire department and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, among other strategic partners, to strengthen emergency response.

Public education, he said, remained a critical part of the Service’s prevention strategy, with initiatives including social-media campaigns, seminars, workshops, fire drills, annual risk assessments, media engagements and Fire Safety Week activities.

The FFS stressed that Nigeria’s transition to cleaner mobility must go hand in hand with specialised emergency-response training, appropriate safety standards and sustained public awareness.

As EV and CNG adoption expands, the Service said firefighters, motorists and the general public must understand the distinct hazards posed by the technologies, noting that conventional firefighting approaches may not always be adequate for emergencies involving alternative-energy vehicles.

NIWA, LASWA, SIFAX, Dangote Transport Lead Stakeholders for 2026 TCAN Summit

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), SIFAX Logistics and Dangote Transport are among leading government agencies and private-sector operators that have confirmed participation in the 2026 Transportation Summit of the Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN).

The summit, scheduled for September 24, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, transport operators, development partners, academics and other stakeholders to examine how transportation and logistics can be leveraged to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth.

Themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics,” the summit is expected to focus on critical issues affecting the efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of Nigeria’s transportation and logistics ecosystem.

According to the TCAN Chairman, Tola Adenubi, discussions will centre on strategies for improving logistics infrastructure, strengthening policy implementation, enhancing safety and innovation, and promoting sustainable development across the sector.

He said the summit would examine the current state of Nigeria’s transportation logistics architecture, with particular attention to roads, waterways, rail and aviation.

“Participants are expected to identify bottlenecks affecting the seamless movement of cargo and passengers and examine how multimodal transportation integration can contribute to economic expansion,” Adenubi said.

He added that other key areas would include investment opportunities across the logistics and supply-chain ecosystem, digital transformation of the logistics value chain, infrastructure financing and public-private partnership opportunities.

Adenubi said stakeholders would also examine regulatory frameworks needed to optimise the transportation sector and develop policy recommendations capable of improving efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

According to him, the participation of NIWA, LASWA, SIFAX Logistics and Dangote Transport underscores the growing commitment of both government agencies and private-sector operators to finding practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria’s transportation industry.

The summit is also expected to provide a platform for government representatives to present ongoing reforms, infrastructure investments and policy initiatives aimed at improving intermodal connectivity, particularly the integration of waterways with road and rail transportation.

Adenubi said the participation of key government agencies and industry players would provide stakeholders with first-hand insights into the government’s transportation agenda while creating an avenue for meaningful dialogue among policymakers, operators and the media.

The 2026 TCAN Summit will feature keynote presentations from government officials and industry stakeholders, alongside networking sessions designed to strengthen collaboration and partnerships across the transportation and logistics value chain.

Discussions will cover critical challenges and opportunities in road, rail, maritime, aviation and multimodal transportation, with emphasis on how an integrated transport system can improve cargo movement, passenger mobility and economic productivity.

TCAN will also recognise individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the development of Nigeria’s transportation industry through its “Champion of Transport Industry Development” compendium.

The association said the summit is expected to generate practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s logistics architecture and positioning transportation as a more powerful engine of economic growth.