Motorists traveling along the Lokoja-Abuja highway have found themselves stuck in heavy traffic just days before the Christmas celebrations.
The intense congestion on this route has now continued for three consecutive days.
Drivers who spoke with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) mentioned that they have been trapped on the road since Saturday morning with no resolution in view.
“It is now 8 p.m., and I have been here since 7 a.m. with my family, heading to Enugu,” one motorist said.
The traffic jam has been particularly bad in the Koton Karfe area.
According to reports, the bottleneck was triggered by two trucks that overturned on the highway.
Estimates suggest the backup of cars and trucks stretches across three to five miles.
Some travelers have been forced to navigate through extremely dusty, unpaved diversions in an attempt to get past the obstruction.
Security officials and members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been sent to the scene to help resolve the congestion.
Prior to this, the Kogi state government had initiated efforts to stop traffic buildup on the highway in preparation for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
A state government team, led by State Security Adviser Jerry Omodara, had toured key parts of the road to identify areas needing urgent work to keep traffic flowing during the busy season.
Omodara mentioned that the state executive council had approved the intervention to prevent the usual end-of-year traffic jams.
The state government maintained that these steps were intended to guarantee a safe and smooth experience for travelers during the holiday period.