By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Motorists on the Abuja-Lokoja highway have been trapped in a massive gridlock, which the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has attributed to driver impatience and poor cooperation.
The congestion, which began on Sunday, stretches from Ogbobo/Ozi to the Murtala Mohammed Bridge at Koton-Karfe, Kogi State.
Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, said the situation was compounded by ongoing road construction and several broken-down vehicles.
However, he stressed that many motorists worsened the traffic by driving against oncoming vehicles, describing the act as “sad and unfortunate.”
The standstill has caused untold hardship for commuters. A driver, Mohammed Yusuf, recounted spending nine hours on the journey from Abuja to Lokoja, which ordinarily takes a few hours.
“I left Abuja before 3 pm on Sunday and arrived in Lokoja by midnight,” he said.
Another traveler, Christopher Adamu, said he was stranded on the road overnight.
Beyond frustration, the delays are taking a financial toll, with drivers burning scarce and costly fuel while idling in traffic.
Commuters are now calling on authorities to adopt decisive measures to ease the logjam and restore free movement along the busy route.
