Self-Driving Cars: The future of transportation or a far-fetched dream for Nigeria
BY TEMITOPE ADEBAYO
When you hear the word “self-driving car” or “autonomous vehicle”, it may sound like a scene straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi movie. For many Nigerians, it triggers one response: “E be like film trick!” But believe it or not, these futuristic vehicles are no longer confined to dreams or the screens—they are very real and already making slow but steady appearances on roads across the globe, and yes, even in Nigeria.
Although still extremely rare and viewed more as experimental than mainstream, a few autonomous vehicle projects have quietly emerged in select Nigerian cities. But this begs the question—how realistic is the idea of self-driving cars operating on Nigerian roads with all their peculiar challenges?
What is a Self-Driving Vehicle?
A self-driving or autonomous vehicle is a car that can drive itself without human input, using a fusion of technologies such as sensors, radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence (AI). These vehicles are programmed to analyze their surroundings and make driving decisions—like braking, accelerating, steering, and navigating—just like a human would.
To qualify as fully autonomous, a vehicle must be able to travel from one location to another without any human intervention, even on roads that haven’t been specifically designed for such vehicles.
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Major car manufacturers like Audi, BMW, Tesla, Ford, Google (Waymo), General Motors, Volkswagen, and Volvo are deep into developing and testing this technology. Some of these vehicles rely on highly advanced tools such as:
Lidar – Uses laser beams to create a detailed 3D map of the surroundings; Radar – Measures distance and speed of other objects to prevent collisions; Ultrasonic Sensors – Assist with parking and detect nearby objects; Video Cameras – Identify road signs, lane markings, traffic lights, and obstacles, and AI Software – Processes real-time data, simulates human decision-making, and sends commands to the car’s control systems.
In a typical operation, the driver simply sets a destination, and the car’s brain, powered by AI, takes over. It calculates the best route using online maps, reads traffic signs, senses obstacles, and adjusts speed or direction accordingly. A human can still override the system if necessary.
Is It Safe? Is It Practical?
The biggest concern surrounding autonomous vehicles is safety. Although these cars are designed to eliminate human errors—the leading cause of most road accidents—many people still find it hard to entrust their lives to a machine.
Critics have raised alarm bells about potential system failures, hacking, and the moral dilemma of machine decision-making in crises. Indeed, there have been fatal accidents involving autonomous cars in other countries, leading to intense scrutiny.
Moreover, self-driving vehicles depend heavily on fast and stable internet connections, typically 5G networks. In Nigeria, where 5G penetration is still in its infancy and erratic internet remains a challenge even in urban areas, this raises serious doubts about the immediate viability of these cars.
Nigeria’s Readiness: A Long Road Ahead
Driving a self-driving car in Nigeria is like planting a palm tree in the desert—it may grow, but not without major intervention. Poor road infrastructure, lack of road signs, inconsistent traffic regulations, and the notorious unpredictability of Nigerian drivers pose major challenges to deploying autonomous vehicles at scale.
Even more, there’s a cultural aspect to consider. Nigerians are generally wary of automated systems, especially when it comes to life-and-death situations. The idea of a machine taking full control of the busy, often chaotic Lagos-Ibadan expressway, for instance, is enough to make many shudder.
Aside from mindset, there’s also the economic hurdle. These vehicles are extremely expensive, and importing or producing them locally would demand significant investment. Coupled with the need for tech-savvy maintenance and special road infrastructure, one wonders: who will bell the cat?
The Pros and Cons: Balancing Hopes and Fears. Advantages of Self-Driving Cars: Reduced Road Accidents: By removing human error, the chances of crashes could decrease.
Environmental Benefits: With optimised traffic flow, fuel consumption and emissions may be reduced.
Accessibility: Elderly and physically challenged individuals who cannot drive could enjoy more independence.
Disadvantages of Self-Driving Cars: Safety Risks: Glitches, software failures or cyber-attacks could result in accidents.
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Energy Consumption: High data processing and communication demand significant energy, often sourced from fossil fuels.
Infrastructure Costs: Upgrading roads, networks, and traffic systems will require billions in investment.
Job Losses: Drivers—especially commercial ones—could lose their source of livelihood.
So, What Does the Future Hold?
While the future may be autonomous, Nigeria still has many dots to connect before self-driving vehicles become a part of everyday life. For now, their presence remains mostly symbolic, limited to experimental programs or showpieces at tech expos.
Still, the conversation has started. Just as mobile phones were once a luxury and are now a necessity, the same could happen with autonomous vehicles—only if our systems catch up with the technology.
So, the big question remains: Will Nigerian roads ever be ready for self-driving cars? And even if they are, will Nigerians be ready to give up the steering wheel? Only time will tell. But as technology keeps advancing, Nigeria must start preparing, because the future doesn’t wait. It drives itself.
