The traffic gridlocks on major highways in southern Nigeria appear to have worsened with the Lagos-Benin-Asaba road heating up to unbearable limits as hungry commuters resorted to cooking food having been stuck in traffic for days.

By 1.00 am Monday night, the traffic was on a standstill with some commuters fallen into deep sleep while others milled around on the bushy highway.

A car owner who left Lagos by 4.30am on Monday said he spent 23 hours on the road to get to his Owerri, Imo state country home. He attributed his speedy travel to the fact that he drove a small car which he was able to manoeuvre through make-shift roads off the blocked highway. He recalled that his family friend who joined a luxury bus had been on the road for two days.

The frustration has continued to linger as more commuters vent their anger at the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, whom they called out for not acting fast to fix the bad road.

Some commuters who spoke to Political Economist NG recounted their ordeal including having to endure hunger because food vendors could not satisfy demands from the sea of commuters.

Meanwhile, the Police command in Kogi has deployed officers along the Lokoja–Abuja highway to enhance public safety, manage traffic flow, and prevent congestion and accidents.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Kankarofi, disclosed this through the command’s spokesperson, CSP William Ovye-Aya, in Lokoja on Monday.

Ovye-Aya said the deployment followed increased vehicular movement caused by ongoing road construction and diversions along sections of the highway.

“CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi is personally overseeing the operation in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander,” he said.

He said deployed personnel include the Police Mobile Force, Motor Traffic Section, and Rapid Response Squad.

“These personnel have been strategically positioned at critical points, diversion routes, and checkpoints to regulate traffic and respond promptly to challenges,” Ovye-Aya said.