Nigeria Changed From Right To Left-Hand Drive 50 Years Ago On April 2nd, Here Is Why

Nigeria changed from British-styled right-hand drive to left-hand drive 50 years ago.

The Nigerian government shifted to using left-hand drive cars on April 2, 1972.

It’s been 50 years on April 2nd since the Nigerian government ditched the British-styled right-hand drive to the left-hand drive common among the French, German and Americans.

Nigeria had been driving with British imported right-hand-drive cars, but after the civil war, it shifted to using left-hand drive cars on April 2, 1972.

But why did the Nigerian government, under the leadership of Major-General Yakubu Gowon, part ways with the British system Right-Hand driving to the Left-Hand Drive?

First, the entire West African region is dominated by the Francophone countries (countries colonized by France) and the need for a seamless transportation and business flow triggered the change.

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Then, their drivers used Nigeria’s ports and borders while Nigerian drivers delivered goods to those countries with much confusion. It made much sense to make that change.

So, if you wanted to drive from Lagos (Nigeria) to Lome (Togo), you had to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road. Changing to the left simply made the journey easy.

Second, most cheap and affordable cars in vogue then were made in France (Renault, Peugeot) and Germany (Volkswagen) which were designed for right-hand drive roads. It would be an expensive process to convert them. Though Japanese cars are built for left-hand drive roads, they were not popular in Nigeria in the ‘70s.

Third, more countries now use on the left-hand drive side than the right. Most of whom are giant automobile manufacturers.

The left-hand drive is used in 165 countries and territories, with the remaining 74 countries and territories using the right-hand drive. Countries that use the left-hand drive account for about a sixth of the world’s area and a quarter of its roads.

Credit : HistoryVille

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