- Nigeria changed from right to left hand drive on April 2, 1972
- Nigerian gunmen kidnapped two Lebanese
According to Jodi Picoult, history is not about dates, places and wars but it’s about the people who fill the spaces between them.
Indeed, history is similar to one’s favorite food. As we drink more, the urge and need grow stronger. In considering historical occurrences that have either hurt or restored our nation, we must be actively motivated by the stories of each day.
WITHIN NIGERIA highlighted three notable events that occurred on April 2 in an effort to increase awareness for educational purposes.
Nigeria changed from right to left hand drive on April 2, 1972
On this day, April 2, 1972, Nigeria ditched the British-styled right-hand drive to the left-hand drive common among the French, German and Americans.
The Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, all former French colonial states that still use the right-hand driving, border Nigeria.
Then, while Nigerian truckers supplied goods to those nations in a confusing manner, their drivers used Nigeria’s ports and borders. The shift was brought about by the requirement for smooth business and transit flow.
The most popular and inexpensive cars at the time were right-hand drive vehicles built in France (Peugot) and Germany (Volkswagen). Converting them would be and expensive operation. The majority of left-hand drive countries are also major auto producers.
Nigerian gunmen kidnapped two Lebanese
On this day, April 2 in 2007, gunmen in Bayelsa State kidnapped two Lebanese nationals, two days after a British oil worker was seized from an offshore rig.
This was made known by Iwendi via telephone conversation with Agence France-Presse (AFP).
According to Iwendi, it is true that the two Lebanese nationals were kidnapped this morning in Bayelsa State.
Industry sources told AFP that the foreigners, who were working for Setraco, a Nigerian construction firm, were abducted at about 7am local time in Yenagoa, the state capital.
They said the kidnap was likely to have been carried out by members of a local community angry at the company over provision of infrastructure.
The identities of the Lebanese and the circumstances surrounding their kidnap are still unknown.
The abduction took place barely 48 hours after a British oil worker was kidnapped from an offshore rig in the western Niger Delta, which was also the target of a raid last year.
The company that manages the rig said on Monday direct negotiations were taking place with the group that abducted Scot Gordon Gray
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