Passengers, Motorists Stranded For Hours As Multiple Accidents Cause Gridlock On Kaduna-Abuja Highway

Passengers and motorists were on Monday stranded for several hours along the Kaduna-Abuja highway following multiple accidents involving articulated vehicles around Gidan Busa, near Katari, leaving travellers frustrated and worried as night approached.

Some of the stranded passengers who spoke to LEADERSHIP said they had spent more than four hours in the gridlock, while others lamented missing important appointments and scheduled engagements in Abuja and other destinations.

A priest among the stranded travellers expressed frustration over the delay, saying he had missed an appointment to attend to sick people, a situation he described as particularly distressing given the urgency of his engagement.

Other passengers, including Amina Abdullahi and Patience Ezekiel, said the prolonged standstill had disrupted their plans, leaving them uncertain about when they would reach their destinations.

Some expressed fears about remaining on the highway as darkness set in, particularly with no clear indication of when traffic would ease.

The gridlock reportedly followed multiple accidents involving articulated vehicles around Gidan Busa, shortly before Katari, on Monday, November 9, causing a major obstruction along the busy highway.

The latest incident came barely a day after three heavily loaded containers reportedly fell on the highway around Katari on Sunday, November 8, further worsening the difficulties faced by motorists using the route.

Some motorists, including Abdullahi Adamu, expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, with some reportedly turning back towards Kaduna while others considered using the Kachia-Bwari route to avoid being trapped for more hours.

The recurring gridlocks have continued to raise concerns among commuters, particularly over the safety and hardship faced by travellers who spend several hours on the highway. Commercial drivers also lose valuable working hours, while passengers travelling for medical, business and other important engagements are left stranded.

Travellers have called for improved traffic management and faster responses to accidents and vehicle breakdowns along the construction corridor, urging relevant authorities and construction teams to ensure that obstructions are cleared promptly to prevent repeated gridlocks.