LT CDR JT FAMAKINWA
COMMANDING OFFICER – NIGERIAN NAVY DRIVING SCHOOL

Nigerian Navy Driving School

The Nigerian Navy Driving School (NNDS) was established on 23 Mar 16 in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The School was established to further the career training and retraining of Motor Transport Department (MTD) ratings. The School was subsequently commissioned on 5 Oct 16, after having been duly certified, registered and accredited by the FRSC. It is noteworthy to state that the School has been granted an operating license by FRSC and can legitimately train and facilitate issuance of driving license to qualified individual. It is also pertinent to state that the School has 2 installed car simulators that are used for practical teaching aids amongst other facilities in the School that are aimed at improving the quality of training skills imparted to MTD ratings.

The NNDS was established with the primary objectives of producing highly experience drivers for the MTD department. It was also aimed at training and retraining NN drivers to improve on their skills before being entrusted with Service vehicles.

The School was commissioned to run MTD Qualifying (Q) Course at 3rd, 2nd and 1st Rate levels for NN Drivers. The MTD 3rd Rate Driving ‘Q’ Course is usually conducted for a period of 3 months. Presently, Batch 13 of MTD 3rd Rate and Batch 1 of 2nd Rate Driving ‘Q’ Course of MTD are on stream in the School and are scheduled to pass out in December 2022.

The scope of the MTD 3rd Rate Driving ‘Q’ Course covers a total 7 MTD subjects and 5 electives. These subjects involve both practical and theoretical aspects and are always delivered by a team of FRSC personnel and the College’s specialist staff. The Courses are always conducted in 2 phases, namely, the theoretical and practical phases. The theoretical aspects always comprise classroom lectures on driving, drivers’ orientation and preparation. Others include the act of driving, licensing of vehicles and driver, effect of alcohol/drugs and driving test/simulator operating system. The theoretical phase which always span over a period of 3 weeks for the 3rd Rate Q Course entails classroom works that mainly prepare the trainees for the practical training phase.

On the other hand, the practical phase of the Course comprises the use of simulator and practical automobile driving tests for a period of 9 weeks for the 3rd Rate Q Course. This phase was designed to consolidate on the classroom instructions. It exposes trainees to practical driving as well as knowledge of road signs. The trainees are subsequently evaluated on completion of both phases of the course. The performance assessments of the trainees are always based on 70 per cent on practical driving and 30 per cent on theoretical driving education. After completing the 2 phases of the training and passing the necessary tests, the students are always issued valid licenses and certified qualified drivers by the FRSC.