Drivers trapped in congestion, commuters left stranded due to the military blocking the Keffi-Abuja road.

The partial barricade of the Keffi-Abuja road by the military has left hundreds of civil servants and self-employed individuals stranded along the roadside. The blockade, which occurred at the Kugbo hill near the popular Kugbo Mechanic Village, caught motorists by surprise. Although no official reason has been provided for the road closure, sources suggest it may be related to security challenges.

Reports indicate that certain aggrieved groups have threatened peaceful protests from Nasarawa to Abuja against specific government policies. The resulting gridlock has extended to Mararaba, covering a distance of over two kilometers. High-profile individuals, unable to endure the situation, are seen turning back to their destinations, while others wait by the roadside for the blockade to be lifted.

Notably, commercial motorcycle operators (Okada) are capitalizing on the situation, charging exorbitant prices to transport passengers from Mararaba to Kugbo Furniture Village. The usual N200 fare has skyrocketed to N1000, exacerbating the difficulties faced by commuters.

Civil servants, exhausted from standing by the roadside for hours, are also opting to return home. A frustrated commercial bus driver, Iiliasu Mohammed, expressed surprise at the military’s sudden action, emphasizing the importance of prior information to mitigate adverse effects on the daily lives of Nigerians. Mohammed, stuck in the two-hour gridlock, appealed to the military to lift the roadblock, particularly for his civil servant passengers trying to reach work.

It’s worth noting that only the Keffi-Abuja road is blocked, while the Abuja-Keffi axis remains unaffected.