Re-issue, not renewal, for a lost card
Losing your driver's licence doesn't mean starting from zero, but it does mean picking the right option on the FRSC portal. The option you want is the Re-issue of Driver's Licence option on the FRSC portal, not the renewal option most people default to.
Renewal assumes you still have the card in hand, just expiring. Re-issue assumes the card is gone, damaged beyond use, or being changed while still valid, for instance after a name change. Confusing the two is the single most common mistake people make when they first go looking for this option.
What you need before you start
The one thing you can't skip is your existing licence number. Even though the physical card is gone, FRSC's record of it isn't, and the number is how the portal finds your file. Check any paperwork from your original application, such as an acknowledgement slip or an old receipt, if you don't remember it offhand.
FRSC's FAQ doesn't list a police report as a requirement here, so don't assume you need one before the portal tells you otherwise. Start the application and let it tell you what it actually asks for, rather than gathering extra paperwork on a guess.
Starting the re-issue on the portal
Once you have your licence number, the re-issue application runs on nigeriadriverslicence.frsc.gov.ng, the same portal used for every other driver's licence transaction. You confirm your details, pay the relevant class and term fee, and book a fresh capture, since your biometrics are taken again for the new card.
What else re-issue covers besides loss
Re-issue isn't only for a lost or stolen licence. It also covers a licence that's still valid but needs a change, such as a correction to your details. If your card has simply expired rather than gone missing, that's a renewal instead, not a re-issue, even though the two routes can look similar on the portal's menu.
Keeping the new licence number safe
Once your replacement is issued, note the new licence number somewhere other than the card itself, such as a note on your phone or an email to yourself. It's a small step that saves you from this exact situation again if the card is ever lost a second time.
A photo of the card on your phone helps too, kept somewhere you can find it quickly, since a clear image of the front and back answers most questions faster than trying to recall the number from memory.
For the full renewal process if your licence has expired rather than gone missing, see our guide to renewing a driver's licence. For more on licences and vehicle papers, visit the licences and vehicles hub.