Travellers stranded as gridlock paralyses Lokoja–Abuja road days to Christmas
Motorists travelling along the Lokoja–Abuja highway have been stranded in a prolonged traffic gridlock just days before Christmas.
The congestion, which has lasted for about three days, has left travellers stuck on the route with little movement.
Speaking to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), several drivers said they had been trapped on the highway since early Saturday.
“It is now 8 p.m., and I have been here since 7 a.m. with my family, heading to Enugu,” one motorist said.
The traffic situation has been particularly severe around the Koton Karfe axis.
According to reports, the gridlock was triggered by two trucks that fell on the road, blocking movement and causing a long line of vehicles to build up.
Estimates suggest that the stretch of stationary trucks and vehicles spans between three and five miles.
In an effort to continue their journeys, some commuters resorted to using dusty off-road paths to navigate around the obstruction.
Security personnel, including officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have been deployed to the area to manage traffic and reduce the congestion.
Ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Kogi state government had begun measures aimed at preventing traffic congestion along the highway.
A state government team led by Jerry Omodara, the state security adviser, had earlier inspected key sections of the road and identified areas requiring urgent intervention to ensure smooth vehicular movement during the peak travel period.
Omodara said the inspection exercise was approved by the state executive council to prevent a recurrence of gridlock during festive seasons.
The state government said the steps were intended to guarantee safe and seamless travel for commuters during the holidays.
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