Vehicular movement has been disrupted along the Lambata-Suleja road in Niger State after some local residents reportedly barricaded the route and demanded a N500 payment from articulated vehicles before allowing them to pass.
The blockade at Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area has triggered a major traffic gridlock, leaving commuters, motorists and truck drivers stranded for extended periods on the busy route linking the Federal Capital Territory with parts of northern and southern Nigeria.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that some young residents mounted roadblocks along the route and prevented trailers, trucks and other articulated vehicles, particularly those conveying scrap materials, from proceeding unless the drivers paid the demanded N500.
The prolonged disruption has reportedly left some travellers stranded for days, exposing road users to potential security risks as traffic remains severely restricted.
It was not immediately clear whether the individuals collecting the money were acting independently or had any connection with the Niger State revenue authorities.
Residents involved in the blockade were reportedly insisting that the road would remain blocked for up to one week unless their demands, including the repair of deteriorated portions of the road, were addressed.
The protesters are said to be angry over what they described as the prolonged neglect of the Lambata-Suleja road by the state and Federal Governments.
They reportedly want relevant authorities to intervene and repair the road, which serves as an important transport link between Abuja and several parts of the country.
As the gridlock persisted, some residents reportedly began making money from the disruption, with women and commercial motorcyclists transporting stranded travellers across blocked sections of the road for agreed fees.
Traders selling local food, snacks and other refreshments were also said to be benefiting from the large number of stranded travellers and motorists.
The situation has raised concerns over the safety and welfare of commuters caught in the traffic, particularly those travelling long distances.
Efforts by our correspondent to obtain comments from the Niger State Road Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on possible emergency measures to ease the situation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
It could also not be independently confirmed whether any government road traffic control agency had deployed personnel or taken measures to remove the barricades and restore free movement along the route.
The gridlock was reported to have started building up on Monday morning, with traffic continuing to experience serious disruption as of the time of filing this report.
The Lambata-Suleja corridor is an important route for motorists travelling between Abuja and other parts of Nigeria, making the disruption potentially significant for commercial and passenger traffic.
