The Lokoja-Abuja highway, which had been brought to a standstill by severe traffic congestion since Sunday, has finally experienced relief following a coordinated intervention by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigerian military.
For more than 48 hours, travellers were stranded on the Lokoja-Koton Karfe-Abuja corridor, with some spending up to ten hours stuck in traffic. The situation, worsened by ongoing road construction and widespread lane indiscipline, created widespread frustration and forced authorities to take decisive action.
Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed on Tuesday that urgent measures were adopted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and road contractors. Sections of the ongoing construction were temporarily opened to motorists, while alternative passages were created to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.
To further tackle the situation, more FRSC personnel were deployed to the Koton Karfe axis, supported by military operatives who provided visibility and assisted in enforcing traffic control. Vehicles were also diverted to available lanes under construction to facilitate smoother movement.
Tsukwam, however, expressed concern over motorists’ non-compliance with traffic regulations, citing reckless lane violations as a major contributor to the prolonged gridlock. He urged commuters to exercise patience and adhere strictly to safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The combined efforts of the FRSC, the military, and field commands such as RS8.3 Kogi Sector and RS8.33 Koton Karfe Unit have now restored relative normalcy along the highway, providing long-awaited relief to travellers and transporters who endured untold hardship during the ordeal.
