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What should have been a routine drivers licence renewal has turned into a two-year ordeal for Bayo (not his real name), a Bolt driver in Lagos. His case highlights the entrenched inefficiencies and bureaucratic lapses within Nigeria’s road safety administration system.
On a mild November morning in 2023, Bayo walked into the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office at the Iponri Zone in Surulere, expecting a quick process. He carried with him expired licence documents and anticipated completing his renewal within the hour.
Instead, he became ensnared in a web of cash transactions, repeated delays, and inconsistent communication, a situation that remains unresolved nearly two years later.
“The man who attended to me told me to pay N30,000 for 5-years, and when I asked if I could make a transfer, he said no. So I went outside, withdrew the money, and paid him in cash. He then filled out the form, gave me a copy, and asked me to come back the following week for capturing,” Bayo recalled.
That was the beginning of a cycle. When Bayo returned, he was told the system was down. What began as a week-long wait has spiralled into over 18 months without a valid or even temporary licence.
Instead of a valid licence, Bayo was given a stamped document unofficial and unrecognised, with eight separate date extensions. The ICIR sighted the document.
“Since then, I’ve been going there repeatedly. Eventually, the first man who attended to me was no longer there, and a different colleague of his who has asked me to apply for another reissue which would warrant me to pay another N25,000. Till date, they haven’t called me for capturing,” he said.
The delay has left him without a temporary or valid license, a risky situation for any driver in Lagos, where police and road safety officers frequently demand up-to-date papers.
A pattern of delay and frustration
Bayo’s experience is echoed across the country and reflects a broader issue with the FRSC’s licence renewal process, which several Nigerians have described as inefficient, inconsistent, and vulnerable to informal practices, including cash-only transactions.
In Abia, IK Carasko, said he paid N40,000 in October 2024 but had been repeatedly asked to keep coming back.
“I paid N40,000 since October 24, 2024. I’ve not been issued the licence till today. I’ve been calling and texting. It’s been one story to another. I can’t be coming to their office from Ikwuano every week,” he said.
Similarly, In Abuja, John Dennis, said he paid N48,000 in December 2024 but has yet to receive his valid licence.
Haruna (not his real name), who visited the FRSC/VIO joint office at Police Signboard, Lugbe in March 2025, was initially issued a temporary licence but has been unable to collect a permanent one.
“I received my temporary drivers licence that same day, but what concerns me is the inconsistency in the renewal cost. The notice on the wall says that a 3-year licence costs N13,500, yet I ended up paying a total of N16,000.”
Haruna said that when he offered to make a bank transfer, the official instead called a Point of Sale (POS) agent to provide him with cash for the payment.
