Sallah Travel: Travellers Stranded as Gridlock Paralyzes Abuja-Kaduna Expressway

Hundreds of travellers were stranded overnight on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway as a severe traffic gridlock brought movement to a halt on the critical route linking the nation's capital to the North-West.

The congestion, concentrated between Jere and Katari, forced motorists and passengers to sleep on the road from Sunday as the standstill persisted. Many travellers were compelled to seek alternative passage via the Jere-Kachia route.

Eyewitness accounts described scenes of frustration and despair. Adams Gambo, a motorist trapped in the logjam, said the situation had become unbearable and raised alarm over the welfare of livestock and perishable goods packed in trucks.

“It was a terrible situation. I was trapped in the gridlock since Sunday night and I slept here and continued today as everywhere is blocked. My worry is that many animals inside trucks may not survive. Also, perishable goods will be spoiled as well,” Gambo said.

Another stranded passenger, Attah Gabriel, who left Kaduna on Sunday evening, described the experience as distressing.

“No food to eat here, it is not a good experience. The contractor handling this Abuja-Kaduna road should complete this project for travellers to have relief,” Gabriel said.

The gridlock was attributed to ongoing road construction works coinciding with a surge in traffic as residents travelled ahead of the Sallah festive period. Efforts to obtain comments from Federal Road Safety Corps officials at the scene were unsuccessful as of press time.

The Abuja-Kaduna Expressway has long been a source of hardship for commuters, with sections undergoing protracted rehabilitation that frequently trigger congestion during peak travel seasons.