By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Drivers, commuters, and other road users plying the Ganaja section of the Lokoja–Ajaokuta Road in Kogi State have lamented its deplorable condition and called on the Federal Government for urgent repairs.
The Correspondent of The Reporters, who plied the road on Sunday, observed firsthand the harrowing experience of commuters and commercial drivers who described the stretch as “a nightmare.”
According to them, vehicles often get stuck on the broken portion of the road, leading to frequent damage to the vehicles and huge financial losses.
An Enugu–Abuja bound driver, Mr. James Ugochukwu, told The Reporters that his heart “beats faster than normal” whenever he approaches the Ganaja stretch, knowing the toll it would take on his vehicle.
“This section is less than a kilometre, but the condition makes it feel like driving through ten kilometres of hell. It drains us financially and mentally. Government must urgently step in so we can breathe and work with less fear,” he lamented.
For Malam Isah Mohammed, a tricycle operator who ferries passengers from Lokoja to nearby villages like Elete, the story is no different. He said most of his daily earnings are swallowed up by constant repairs.
“Sometimes I take home nothing for myself or the owner of the tricycle. We are just working for mechanics because of this terrible road. The government must come to our rescue,” he pleaded.
The Lokoja–Ajaokuta Road remains a vital artery connecting the Kogi State capital to its eastern districts and further linking the South-East and South-South regions.
Beyond human movement, it serves as a major route for goods and services.
Stakeholders warn that if the Ganaja stretch is not repaired urgently, the economic and social costs will continue to mount for both the state and the country at large.
