Commuters Stranded As Bridge Collapses, Truck Gridlock Worsens Abuja Traffic Chaos

Hundreds of commuters were left stranded on Tuesday after a bridge collapsed at Chukuku village along the Kuje–Gwagwalada road, disrupting movement and cutting off access between key communities in Abuja.

According to Daily Trust, the incident, which followed a heavy downpour, rendered the route impassable for vehicles travelling between Gwagwalada and Kuje. Residents of Chukuku and neighbouring Kiyi village were also affected, with many forced to find alternative, often difficult, means of transportation.

When reporters visited the scene, construction workers handling the road dualisation project were seen making temporary efforts to restore access. An excavator was deployed to fill the collapsed bridge with laterite, allowing limited movement, while work continued on a new bridge.

The disruption forced motorcycle (okada) riders and tricycle operators to drop passengers at the affected point, leaving many commuters to trek long distances to continue their journeys.

Some travellers, unable to secure alternative transport, resorted to crossing the river on foot, while others abandoned their trips altogether. Motorists travelling from Kuje towards Gwagwalada were also seen turning back.

Expressing frustration, commuters blamed the situation on what they described as poor infrastructure.

Mrs Agnes James, a civil servant who works at Gwagwalada Township Clinic but lives in Chukuku village, narrated her ordeal: “I had to cross the river and then board a bike to Gwagwalada before getting to my workplace.”

Another resident, Garba Ibrahim, attributed the collapse to structural weakness, noting that erosion had significantly weakened the road.

He explained that a deep gully had formed over time, eventually splitting the road into two and cutting off access for both residents and motorists.

In a related development, traffic congestion worsened along the Nyanya–Keffi road after a fallen truck blocked access to the city centre, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded for hours.

Many passengers, including civil servants and private sector workers, were seen waiting at bus stops as the number of available vehicles dropped drastically due to the gridlock.

A commuter, Reuben Daniel, described the situation as unbearable, revealing that he spent over an hour waiting for transportation.

“The situation is very frustrating. I spent over one hour waiting to get a vehicle to Wuse. You can imagine that drivers are charging N2,000 from here to Wuse, which was previously N800 to N1,000. This is outrageous,” he said.

Also speaking, businessman Ahmed Aliyu noted that ongoing construction along the Abuja–Keffi road further compounded the situation, worsening delays and increasing commuter hardship.