By Daily Review Online
Hundreds of motorists and travellers were stranded for several hours on the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Monday following the breakdown of three trucks on Rijana Bridge, triggering a massive traffic gridlock along the busy route.
The congestion reportedly stretched from Akilibu to Gidan Busa, with some motorists spending between three and eight hours in traffic as efforts were made to clear the obstruction.
A commercial driver, who identified himself as Bala, said he spent almost three hours in the gridlock before he was able to continue his journey.
He said the trucks reportedly broke down around 2am on Monday, leaving motorists stranded for several hours.
Although efforts were underway to remove the vehicles, he said traffic was still moving slowly as road construction activities further complicated the situation.
Another resident of Katari, Danjuma Katari, confirmed that the congestion extended from Akilibu to Gidan Busa, adding that motorists were still experiencing difficulties as of 5pm on Monday.
He said although the trailers had started moving slowly, traffic remained heavily congested.
Observations along the highway showed several trucks conveying livestock and goods stranded in the traffic, while smaller vehicles struggled to manoeuvre through available spaces.
Some stranded travellers and youths were also seen by the roadside as officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) worked to remove the obstruction.
The animals packed inside some of the livestock trucks appeared exhausted after spending several hours in the congestion.
A commuter, Reuben Buhari, who shared his experience on Facebook, said he spent eight hours in the gridlock before reaching Abuja.
He expressed concern that many other travellers, particularly tanker and trailer drivers, could spend the night on the highway.
Buhari also blamed poor driving habits, impatience and disregard for traffic regulations among motorists for worsening the situation.
Another motorist, Aliyu Abu, similarly identified lack of patience and discipline among road users as contributing factors.
For Sarah Monday, a fashion designer travelling to Abuja for a contract meeting, the gridlock resulted in a missed business appointment.
She appealed to the Federal Government to expedite the reconstruction of the highway to reduce the hardship experienced by motorists, particularly during festive periods such as Salah and Christmas.
FRSC removes two trucks
The FRSC Sector Commander, Andrew Paul Longkam, confirmed the obstruction, saying the corps had succeeded in removing two of the three trucks responsible for the gridlock.
He said reports reaching him indicated that traffic was gradually returning to normal.
Longkam attributed the severity of the congestion partly to ongoing road construction, which has left only one lane available to motorists in some sections.
According to him, the restricted space means that even a minor obstruction can trigger a major traffic crisis.
He also identified the high volume of vehicles on the highway as another contributing factor, noting that many motorists were reportedly travelling to Jigawa State for a political campaign.
As the congestion persisted, some motorists reportedly began turning back towards Kaduna, with several indicating plans to access Abuja through the Kachia-Bwari route.
Recurring gridlock on highway
The Kaduna-Abuja highway is one of the major transport corridors in northern Nigeria, linking the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna and providing access to other parts of the North-West.
The route handles thousands of commuters, commercial vehicles, articulated trucks and fuel tankers daily, making any obstruction a major challenge for road users.
The Katari-Jere axis has particularly become a recurring congestion hotspot because of ongoing reconstruction, narrowed sections of the road and traffic diversions.
A breakdown or accident involving a heavy-duty vehicle in such restricted sections can quickly bring traffic movement to a standstill.
The latest incident is among several major gridlocks recorded on the highway this year.
On January 4, motorists experienced severe congestion between Greenville and Obasanjo Farm following increased vehicular movement after the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The FRSC attributed the situation to the resumption of road construction, closure of some diversions, motorists’ impatience and poor lane discipline.
Similarly, between May 24 and 26, thousands of travellers were reportedly stranded along the Jere, Katari and Azara axis during the Eid-el-Kabir travel rush, with some spending between six and 20 hours on the road.
The congestion was blamed on ongoing reconstruction, rainfall, an accident, heavy vehicular movement and dangerous overtaking.
On August 22, motorists also experienced severe congestion around Kateri, Jere and Zuba in both directions, prompting the deployment of FRSC personnel and soldiers to manage traffic.
Expert calls for restrictions on truck movement
A road safety expert, Munkaila Sulaiman, has called on the Federal Government to introduce restrictions on the movement of articulated vehicles during peak traffic periods and establish emergency response stations along the highway.
Sulaiman, a retired road safety officer, said the recurring gridlock required more than the temporary deployment of traffic officials, urging the government to implement a comprehensive traffic management strategy.
He described the situation as a major transportation, economic and public safety challenge requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
According to him, prolonged construction, poorly managed diversions, breakdowns involving heavy-duty vehicles, road crashes, reckless driving and inadequate emergency response are among the major causes of the persistent congestion.
He specifically identified the Katari-Jere-Zuba corridor as requiring urgent attention because of restricted traffic passages and the movement of articulated vehicles.
Sulaiman urged the Federal Ministry of Works to review the performance of contractors handling the highway reconstruction and enforce agreed completion deadlines.
He also called for construction to be carried out in properly coordinated phases, with completed sections opened to traffic and alternative routes provided before existing lanes are closed.
The expert stressed the need for safe alternative passages, clear road markings, reflective signs and adequate lighting at diversion points.
On articulated vehicles, he proposed designated movement periods, particularly during peak passenger traffic hours, as well as designated parking and holding areas along the corridor.
He further recommended regular mechanical inspections of heavy-duty vehicles and the strategic positioning of recovery trucks to ensure that broken-down vehicles are removed promptly.
Sulaiman, however, said any restrictions on truck movement should be based on proper traffic studies and coordinated with freight operators.