Motorists travelling along the Lokoja–Abuja Expressway have been trapped in a massive traffic jam, with the congestion stretching into its third day just days to Christmas.
Several drivers who spoke with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said they had been stuck on the highway since Saturday, with little progress and no clear indication of when traffic would ease.
“It is now 8 p.m., and I have been here since 7 a.m. with my family, heading to Enugu,” one motorist lamented.
The worst of the gridlock was recorded around the Koton Karfe axis, where two trucks reportedly fell and blocked parts of the road. The resulting backlog of vehicles was estimated to span between three and five miles, trapping cars, buses and heavy-duty trucks.
In an attempt to escape the standstill, some travellers were forced to drive through dusty, unpaved routes around the affected section of the highway.
To manage the situation, security agencies, including officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have been deployed to restore traffic flow and maintain order.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government had earlier rolled out preventive measures aimed at reducing congestion on the highway ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. A government team led by the state’s security adviser, Jerry Omodara, had toured key sections of the road to identify flashpoints requiring urgent intervention.
According to Omodara, the exercise was sanctioned by the state executive council to curb the recurring festive season traffic bottlenecks. The state government added that the steps were intended to guarantee safe and uninterrupted movement for commuters during the holiday travel rush.
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