A massive gridlock has left several vehicles stranded for hours on the Abuja-Lokoja highway ahead of the Easter holidays

Our correspondent observed on Friday that the traffic buildup, described as a recurring phenomenon during festive periods, has left motorists stranded for hours on the busy route linking the Federal Capital Territory to parts of the North Central and southern regions.

A similar situation was recorded in December, when several motorists reportedly spent up to four days on the road.

Some of the stranded motorists blamed the gridlock on impatience among drivers and the poor condition of sections of the road, which have been under construction for about 20 years.

One of the travellers, Abdu Yekeem, who works in Abuja and was heading to Ibadan, said he has experienced the situation repeatedly.

He noted that he had been “unlucky to suffer this gridlock for the past two years” while travelling home during Christmas and Easter holidays.

Another motorist, Abayomi Adewale, claimed he had been on the road since Thursday afternoon when he left Abuja on his way to Ado Ekiti, but as of Friday, he was still stuck on the road at River Niger bridge.

“I will be returning to Abuja when ever i am free from this gridlock,” Adewale said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State, Mohammed Gambo, in an interview with our correspondent, blamed both the federal and state governments for the condition of the road.

“The road has been abandoned for 20 years due to inadequate funding and incompetent contractors handling the project. I spent seven hours while travelling to Abuja on Thursday,” Gambo said.

He described the highway as “a major gateway linking the Federal Capital Territory to the North Central and parts of the South, serving food supplies, fuel distribution and manufactured goods,” warning that the situation would worsen as Easter travel intensifies.

“With Easter underway, many Nigerians will spend the holidays on the road. Our senators and other lawmakers should join other governments in pushing for urgent government intervention because the hardship is becoming too much,” he added. (The PUNCH)

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