Holiday travel along the Lokoja–Abuja expressway has been thrown into chaos as motorists were trapped in a massive traffic jam days to Christmas.
Drivers and passengers said the congestion, which has lasted for hours, is worst around the Koton Karfe area, leaving many travellers stranded on the busy route.
While some commuters blamed the gridlock on two trucks that reportedly fell on the highway, others pointed to the slow pace of ongoing road rehabilitation works as the cause of the blockage.
The tailback of vehicles, made up largely of trucks and buses, was estimated to stretch between three and five miles.
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With no quick relief in sight, some road users abandoned the highway and diverted through dusty, unpaved routes in a bid to continue their journeys.
Security agencies, including operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have since been deployed to manage traffic and restore movement on the corridor.
Earlier it was gathered that the Kogi State Government had rolled out measures to avert traffic congestion on the route ahead of the Christmas and New Year rush.
As part of the efforts, a state team led by the Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, had toured critical sections of the highway, identifying spots needing urgent intervention to ensure free flow of traffic during the festive travel period.
