Lokoja-Abuja highway blocked- FRSC

The Commission says the road is no longer passable and advised motorists to ply alternative routes.

The Federal Road Safety Commission announced on Thursday that it has blocked the flooded Lokoja-Abuja highway, as floodwaters rise.

The commission said the road has become impassable and advised motorists to use alternative routes.

“Motorists advised to completely avoid the route and ply alternative routes for safety’ sake,” the commission said.

Lokoja, a major transport hub in Nigeria, linking Abuja-the capital city- and many states in the Southern Nigeria, has been flooded since last week, rendering a large section of its highway impassable. Several families have been displaced as the humanitarian crises worsened.

The flood, caused by the overflowing River Niger is not receding yet as it continues to sack communities down its course.

On Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA issued an evacuation alert to residents of Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi as emergency workers rescued victims trapped on tree tops and rooftops. Elderly residents of Lokoja said this magnitude of flooding is occurring for the first time since 60 years.

Several motorists had to abandon their journey as alternative routes are lengthy and bad. Most Nigerians travel on land as there is no functional rail system and the aviation sector is grossly over stretched and expensive.

The worst spot on the flooded highway is between Banda and Lokoja, as well as Lokoja metropolis, the FRSC said.