Outrage On Abuja–Lokoja Highway As 3-day Gridlock Leaves Commuters Stranded

Commuters and motorists plying the Abuja–Lokoja Highway have expressed anger and frustration as the gridlock on the corridor entered its third day.

The traffic snarl, which began on Tuesday at Okumi on the Banda axis, has stretched through Karara to Kotonkarfe in Kogi local government area and extended to the Crusher Area in Lokoja local government area, covering an estimated distance of 20 to 30 kilometres.

A commuter, Adejo Ibrahim, told LEADERSHIP Friday in Lokoja that he was forced to abandon his vehicle and resorted to a commercial motorcycle to complete his journey.

“I had to disembark and take a motorcycle from Banda to Nataco in Lokoja. I paid N4,000 for a distance of less than 6 to 7 kilometres, facing serious risks as we sometimes had to navigate through bushes just to beat the traffic,” he said.

A source attributed the gridlock to ongoing construction at Okumi, a community between Banda and Lokoja, citing the slow pace of work as a major contributing factor.

The source warned that unless urgent measures are taken, travellers heading to the western and eastern parts of the country for the Easter celebrations may face similar hardship.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Kogi State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Tenimu Etuku, also blamed the situation on a failed section of the road between Okumi and Banda, near the Naval Base in Lokoja.

According to him, heavy rainfall on Monday worsened the situation by causing water accumulation on the damaged portion, thereby slowing vehicular movement.

“The problem was caused by the failed section of the road before Banda. Due to heavy rainfall, water gathered on that spot, making movement very slow,” he explained.

“We are doing our best to manage and ease the traffic flow. However, as we try to control the situation, more vehicles keep building up, making it seem as though little is being done.”

Etuku stressed that the only lasting solution is the urgent repair of the failed portion of the road.

“We will remain on ground until normalcy is restored,” he assured.