Nigeria: Requirements and procedures to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP); content, appearance and security features of the permit; prevalence of fraudulent IDPs; samples (2019-October 2021)
1. Domestic and International Regulations
For information regarding Nigeria's National Traffic Regulations, 2012, which provides regulations for driving documents for Nigerians driving outside of the country, see Response to Information Request NGA106188 of October 2018.
According to the UN, Nigeria assented to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic in 2011 (UN [1 Oct. 2021a]), and to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 2018 (UN [1 Oct. 2021b]). For additional information regarding the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, amended in 2016, see Response to Information Request NGA106188 of October 2018.
According to Annex 7 of a consolidated version of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, the format of IDPs "shall be a booklet in format A 6 (148 x 105 mm)" (UN 1968, Annex 7). For additional information regarding Annex 7 of the Convention on Road Traffic, including model IDP pages applicable from 29 March 2011, see Response to Information Request NGA106188 of October 2018.
Annex 10 of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic similarly provides that IDPs should be 148 x 105 mm in dimension (UN 1949, Annex 10).
2. Content, Appearance and Security Features of IDPs in Nigeria
According to sources, IDPs in Nigeria are issued in card format (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021; Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Nigerian law firm, whose practice areas include immigration law, stated that IDPs are "printed on a blue-coloured card" and the front of the card includes "the applicant[']s passport photograph, full name, permit number, validity period and city where the permit was obtained (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). The same source indicated that "the posterior part of the card has the general terms upon which the permit is issued" (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a team manager of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Special Fraud Unit stated that IDP cards include "an inscription of the Nigeria Police logo on it" (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021).
Sources reported that in the past Nigeria issued IDPs in "booklet" format (Nigerian Law Firm 29 Sept. 2021; Partner 6 Oct. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Sustainable Transport Division, which is working to "facilitate the international movement of persons and goods by inland transport modes" (UN n.d.), stated that as "a contracting party to the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic," Nigeria "should be issuing IDPs in compliance with the Convention (as per Annex 7)" (UN 6 Oct. 2021).
According to sources, the IDP issued in Nigeria is a "national document" (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021; Partner 13 Sept. 2021).
According to the NPF Team Manager, "there are concerted effort[s]" to integrate "'security features'" into the IDP card and this will come to be before the second week of October 2021 (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021). Corroborating information on security features of the IDP could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
A sample of a Nigerian IDP card issued in 2017, provided to the Research Directorate by the Nigerian Law Firm, is attached to this Response.
3. Requirements and Procedures to Obtain an IDP in Nigeria
According to the NPF Team Manager, IDPs are issued by the Central Motor Registry (CMR) of the NPF, "usually" from the office at the Police Force Headquarters Annex on Moloney Street in Lagos, and the process is "the same" nationwide (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021). The Nigerian Law Firm, however, stated that issuance of IDPs is a "national matter handled exclusively by the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Commission," and "there is no other organisation saddled with that responsibility either at the state or city level within the country" (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a partner at a Lagos-based legal consulting firm, whose practice areas include immigration law, indicated that IDPs are issued by the "Ministry of Interior in collaboration with [the] Federal Road Safety Commission," and there are "no differences" in the issuing body for different regions, states, or cities within Nigeria (Partner 13 Sept. 2021).
According to sources, IDPs can be issued to holders of a "valid" National (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021) or Nigerian (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021) driver's license (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021; Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). The Nigerian law firm stated that applicants must "pay the prescribed fees" and provide the following information:
- Full name of applicant
- Date of birth
- Local Government Area
- Blood type
- Country of residence
- Height
- Weight
- Applicant's Nigerian phone number
- Next of kin's phone number (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021).
The NPF Team Manager indicated that applicants "must provide other means of identification" in addition to their valid driver's license, "must provide evidence of valid documents such as valid international passport," and "must apply in person" (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021). The Partner stated that applications for IDPs are "a uniform process across the country" and are made "to the Ministry of Interior (Immigration Section)" (Partner 13 Sept. 2021). The same source indicated that "first time applicants" must present their "driver[']s license, passport photograph and application letter" (Partner 13 Sept. 2021).
According to the Nigerian Law Firm, after payment of fees and submission of required information, the issued IDP "along with the applicant's details will be sent to the INTERPOL at the [NPF]" (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021).
4. Prevalence of Fraudulent IDPs in Nigeria
Sources indicated that "there are [established (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021)] cases of [usage of (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021)] fraudulent [IDPs]" in Nigeria (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021; Partner 13 Sept. 2021). The Partner added that "there is no data with respect to [the] … prevalence" of such fraud (Partner 13 Sept. 2021). According to the Nigerian Law Firm, "cases of fraudulent [IDPs] are rampant" (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021), while the NPF Team Manager indicated that since IDPs are not mandatory for Nigerians, "demand for it is minimal," and IDP-associated fraud is therefore "not common" (Nigeria 20 Sept. 2021).
The Nigerian Law Firm noted that the "authorities are always vigilant" regarding fraudulent IDPs, and "culprits are often apprehended owing to the marked distinguishing features in the original" IDP (Nigerian Law Firm 23 Sept. 2021). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Nigeria. 20 September 2021. Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Special Fraud Unit. Correspondence from a team manager to the Research Directorate.
Nigerian law firm, Lagos. 29 September 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Nigerian law firm, Lagos. 23 September 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Partner, Legal Consulting Firm, Lagos. 6 October 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Partner, Legal Consulting Firm, Lagos. 13 September 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
United Nations (UN). 6 October 2021. UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Sustainable Transport Division. 6 October 2021. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
United Nations (UN). [1 October 2021a]. "1. Convention on Road Traffic. Geneva, 19 September 1949." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2021]
United Nations (UN). [1 October 2021b]. "19. Convention on Road Traffic. Vienna, 8 November 1968." [Accessed 1 Oct. 2021]
United Nations (UN). 1968 (amended 2016). Convention on Road Traffic. Consolidated text. [Accessed 25 Oct. 2021]
United Nations (UN). 1949. Convention on Road Traffic. [Accessed 4 Oct. 2021]
United Nations (UN). N.d. UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). "About Us." [Accessed 28 Oct. 2021]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria; EU – Frontex; International Organization for Standardization; Nigeria – Embassy in Washington, DC, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service; Nigerian Law Firm (3); Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre; Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
Internet sites, including: Auto Driver's Club; ecoi.net; Ezylinkage Global Ventures; Factiva; International Drivers Association; International Drivers License Permit; International Driving Permit; International Organization for Standardization; The Legal 500; Legit.ng; Naijauto.com; The NEWS; Nigeria – Federal Road Safety Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria Police Force; Newsdiaryonline.com; US – Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Attachment
Nigeria. 2017. International Driving Permit. Sent to the Research Directorate by a Nigerian law firm, 23 September 2021.