Presidency Moves To End Bida–Kutigi Gridlock

The Presidency has intervened to address the prolonged traffic gridlock along the Bida–Kutigi corridor in Niger State, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent measures to restore traffic flow and ease the hardship faced by motorists, transport operators and passengers.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, joined the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the intervention aimed at clearing bottlenecks, restoring road safety and reopening affected sections to normal traffic.

Ade-John participated in a high-level meeting with the FRSC Corps Marshal, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, mni; the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo; and the National President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Yusuf Lawal.

The meeting focused on immediate measures to strengthen traffic management and address the factors responsible for the recurring gridlock along the strategic corridor.

The Wuya Bridge between Kutigi and Bida was identified as a major flashpoint, with congestion reportedly worsening on Wednesdays due to increased traffic associated with the weekly market.

FRSC personnel in Bida and Kutigi have continued to deploy on Wednesdays to control vehicle movement and manage the traffic situation, while broader measures are being pursued to tackle the recurring congestion.

The situation is also critical along the Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road and the Maje–Diko Junction axis in front of the Suleja NNPC Depot, where traffic has reportedly been blocked in both directions for about 15 days.

The prolonged obstruction has disrupted the movement of passengers, commercial vehicles and goods, further compounding difficulties for road users along the corridor.

Ade-John reaffirmed the determination of the Presidency to address transportation bottlenecks capable of undermining mobility and economic activity.

He urged motorists and transport operators to cooperate with traffic management officials and exercise patience as the intervention is implemented.

Meanwhile, the federal government has moved to tackle indiscriminate truck parking along the Coastal Road and Deep-Sea Port Access Road corridor in Lagos.

Ade-John disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Nigerian Ports Authority, where he warned that trucks obstructing the corridor would be impounded and moved to an approved truck park.

He said the government would not allow unauthorised truck parking to undermine traffic flow, road safety and public investment in the strategic corridor.

The measures form part of the federal government’s broader efforts to address persistent transportation bottlenecks and improve the movement of people and goods on key road corridors.