Christmas Travel Chaös: Lokoja-Abuja Highway Paralyzed by Severe Gridlock

A massive traffic jam has brought the Lokoja-Abuja highway to a complete standstill, stranding hundreds of motorists for hours and causing major disruptions during the peak Christmas travel period.

The severe gridlock began early Saturday morning and has been attributed to a combination of ongoing road construction, multiple vehicle breakdowns, and sections where traffic is restricted to just a single lane. Travelers voiced significant frustration, with one motorist reporting he and his family had been stuck on the road since 7:00 a.m. while trying to reach Enugu, calling the ordeal “exhausting and distressing.”

While security personnel and traffic officials have been deployed to manage the congestion, progress remains slow. Movement is hampered by the sheer volume of vehicles and the difficulty of navigating the narrow, crowded passages.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commented on the situation, noting that driver impatience and poor road discipline are worsening the deadlock. The agency is urging all motorists to cooperate with officials on the ground and strictly avoid dangerous overtaking that could further block the route.

With holiday travel expected to intensify in the coming days, authorities are advising road users to plan their journeys carefully, exercise extreme patience, and consider using alternative routes where feasible to avoid the bottleneck.