Did you know that before 1972, Nigerian driver seats were on the right side of the vehicle?

However, in April 1972, under the leadership of Major-General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria made a dramatic shift in its transportation system, moving from right-hand to left-hand driving.

Factors Influencing Change:

1. Increased International Trade
As Nigeria's trade with surrounding countries, especially former French colonies, grew, right-hand driving proved troublesome. Drivers from these countries, who are accustomed to driving on the left, struggled to navigate Nigerian roadways. Switching to a left-hand drive enabled more efficient cross-border mobility and trade.

2. Globalisation
Left-hand driving is more common, accounting for around one-sixth of the world's surface and affecting a quarter of its road networks. Furthermore, many major car manufacturers operate in countries with left-hand drives, which may have an impact on vehicle supply in Nigeria.

3. Alignment with Regional Trends
Several West African nations had previously adopted the left-hand drive, and Nigeria's move was consistent with this regional trend, perhaps leading to deeper regional integration.

Challenges of transition
Converting the whole fleet of vehicles, including buses, taxis, and personal automobiles, was an expensive endeavour. This financial burden landed disproportionately on regular residents, raising questions about affordability. The changeover also influenced the domestic auto industry, which was previously designed to produce right-hand-drive automobiles.

To address these difficulties, the government implemented the following measures:

Providing incentives for local manufacturers to switch to left-hand-drive vehicles.

Allowing for a transition time during which right-hand-drive automobiles might continue to be legally driven on roads.

30% of countries in the world, mostly in Europe, drive on the left (influenced mainly by historical factors) and 70% drive on the right (influenced by Napoleon, the US, and the practicality of waggons).

Ultimately, Nigeria's transition to left-hand drive in 1972 was a momentous and challenging decision. Despite the limitations, it attempted to promote efficiency, safety, and regional connectivity.

https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/why-nigeria-switched-the-drivers-seat-from-right-to-left/vckvmqj#:~:text=As%20Nigeria's%20trade%20with%20surrounding,struggled%20to%20navigate%20Nigerian%20roadways.

I think right-hand drive makes drivers more focused on the road and vehicles when driving. I think so because it is more tasking since majority of people on earth are right-handed. In this case, people will try to focus on the driving because of the inconvenience (difficulty) of using the left hand for gear lever, stereo and other things.

I find left-hand drive easier because the right hand is used for gear lever, stereo operation and so on. Consequently, drivers in this category tend to drive with less attention because of the convenience.

Please, this is just an assumption for now. I may later do research on the rates of road accidents in countries that use right-hand drive and in countries that use left-hand drive.

How does this bring solution to the numerous problems cause by Tilumbu the fake accountant?

Q

9ja left hand is the best abeg .UK right hand will be doing you one kind, they way they turn on their round about is opposite of ours . Even to learn their driving na another headache, I spend about 70k naira per hour to learn their driving, and I have been driving for 11 years before I left 9ja but UK cars and roads will still jonze you, their R for reverse on manual cars are different theirs goes up. But truth be told we no de drive for 9ja 😂😂 we are just moving the car.

Wonderful

Even the old dead walking man couldn't remember this, he only remember how he fought war, kill and mame lives in the Eastern Region

True true if you did not read that epistle here lemme explain to yo.

Nigeria switched the driver's seat from right to left in 1972 to align with the majority of countries that drive on the left side of the road. This change was made to conform to the international standard, which is left-hand traffic. The specific date for this change was April 2, 1972. The decision to switch from right-hand drive to left-hand drive was made by the government, as they felt that it was necessary to align with the global norms. And pls visit my small blog it’s all about dj mix of all genre of music www Naijadjmixtape com

hmmmmm................Interesting topic............
but have you thought about registering you Business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)?
it's very cheap and simple

I wish to test drive a righty, I have heard so much stories from friends in the UK

Nigeria is copy copy

Sope o ti di lefty...

Whether left or right I will still drive it...

Fake accountant indeed!

MajorOvakporaye:
How does this bring solution to the numerous problems cause by Tilumbu the fake accountant?

Na that part we no please Britain.
Cos Na France suppose colonize us. Look at our allies, na French colony surround us, Cameroon to the east, Benin Republic and Togo to the west and Niger and Chad to the north.

Meanwhile, I no know who worst pass btw Britain and France cos all their colonies especially in sub saharan Africa are suffering sufferers!
We are the suffering specimen of the world!
I saw a video of wan tiringbeku whiteman saying Africa must continue to be impoverished cos na we get raw materials needed in Europe for their advancement . How true is this?
Does anyone have the link or source?

MajorOvakporaye:
How does this bring solution to the numerous problems cause by Tilumbu the fake accountant?

Someone who built Lagos?

Hmmn! So UK, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe and other eastern and southern African countries that still maintain left side of the road are less bouyant than Nigeria? That's why Nigeria's driving licence isnt recognised abroad. Really been long we've been making inappropriate decisions that seemingly has led us more backwards.

[quote author=politicoNG post=128782100]

https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/why-nigeria-switched-the-drivers-seat-from-right-to-left/vckvmqj#:~:text=As%20Nigeria's%20trade%20with%20surrounding,struggled%20to%20navigate%20Nigerian%20roadways.[/quot]

Nigeria's major problem illiteracy of the Citizens this is the number one problem which we are facing with a Nigerian people all over the world

Noted.

In summary, Nigeria don dey do copycat since time immemorial!!

The only reason I see here is so that drivers can greet each other and shake hands easily while driving..Lol

The first time I went to South Africa, I hired a car at the airport. I had paid and received the car key when I realized it’s a right handed car.

I summoned courage started the car, I struggled to use my left hand to position the gear for 15minutes…to compound the issue is the transmission of the car….it’s godamned manual car.
The last time I drove a manual car was in my secondary school days…and that was my mums peogeut 504.

I was in one position for 30min…then their rep came to check on me “any problem?” I said I’m cool I’m just setting my map app.

I finally fired the car, the car jumped forward, from their I entered the road like an erratic drunk driver…zooming, jerking and slowing..

Sweating inside the AC.

Then I faced the major road, their roads are tailored for right driving, I first faced one way..thank God I didn’t cause accident.

I quickly calculated that I had to be on the right.

At the end sha…I saw a ticket of 250rands on the cars screen wiper asking me to pay in 48hours..

I nearly hated South Africa because of that

Four years in UK, I never enjoyed right-hand driving. It's just very boring and it took a while before I got used to it.

H

I'm here till tell you.to marry a young virgin woman if you want peace and lasting happiness in you home.

If you marry a woman who has been fvvcked and mounted by many men, you will train another man's children thinking they're yours because she will definitely go back and fvvck her - Okafor's law is real bro.


Finally, fvck any girl you want but when it comes to marriage, find a virgin woman. Only her can guarantee you a peaceful lasting and happy home.

Avoid my advice and you will be on front page of many newspapers for badnews.

I repeat, MARRY ONLY A WOMAN WHI HAS KEPT HERSELF - a virgin!

Nigeria dey copy america

With the transition and all of that, Nigeria refused to grow in everything. We remain a dwarf giant despite being in possession of everything that can make a country great.

A worthy thread..

I Sell herbs tho