Abuja–Lokoja Gridlock Eases Slightly, But Ordeal Persists for Motorists

By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.

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Many commercial drivers traveling between Lokoja and Abuja have abandoned the highway as the persistent gridlock stretched about seven kilometres from Banda to Crusher in Lokoja as of Sunday.

One of the commercial drivers plying the highway from Lokoja to Kaduna, Malam Abdulmalik Mohammed,in a telephone interview with our correspondent,described his experience during the gridlock on Tuesday as “terrible.”

“I can no longer withstand the rigour of this terrible hold-up on this highway, and I now ply the Lokoja–Kabba and Lokoja–Okene routes for my transport business,” he said.

In the same vein,our correspondent gathered that some Lokoja residents who had planned to travel via the highway to Kaduna, Kano, and other northern states have put their journeys on hold, awaiting the return of normalcy.

Our correspondent recalls that the gridlock started about four days ago as a result of reconstruction work at the Okumi-Banda axis of the highway, a development that subjected thousands of motorists and commuters to a harrowing ordeal.

Other sources traced the ugly development to an incident involving an articulated vehicle.

Investigation by our correspondent, however, revealed that the situation showed ease on Sunday, with a minimal number of vehicles and passengers able to pass through to their various destinations as a result of combine efforts of Federal Road Safety Corps, Traffic among other agencies in road management.

The slow improvement followed efforts by the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), traffic wardens, and other critical stakeholders who worked to clear the road and restore vehicular movement.

Mr Austin Efe and other victims of the gridlock who lamented that they spent long hours spent at a spot on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to take urgent action to complete the reconstruction of the highway and end the agony of thousands of travellers plying the high way.

They expressed concern that, for many years, construction and rehabilitation efforts on the highway have progressed slowly, underscoring the importance of renewed commitment to completing the project.

Commuters shared various experiences from the incident, including missed appointments and extended travel times, all of which highlight the human impact of prolonged traffic disruptions on such a strategic road.

Transporters and logistics operators emphasised that improving the condition of the highway would help stabilise supply chains, reduce transportation costs, and enhance overall economic efficiency.

Stakeholders suggested that a key step forward is ensuring adequate and transparent funding for the comprehensive reconstruction of the road, rather than relying on temporary fixes.

They also recommended engaging experienced contractors, maintaining strict project supervision, and implementing effective traffic management measures, including alternative routes and timely information for road users.