Thousands of travellers were stranded for several hours on Monday morning along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, despite the Federal Government’s assurances that traffic had returned to normal. Vehicles were barely moving along a stretch of less than five kilometres, forcing families, commercial drivers, and long-distance commuters to spend the night inside their cars.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and exhausting, noting the absence of traffic officials, emergency responders, or road contractors to manage the congestion. The gridlock coincided with peak festive travel, raising concerns over the government’s handling of critical road infrastructure during high-traffic periods.

A video shared by Nda Aaron showed hundreds of vehicles, including buses, trailers, and private cars, immobilised along the highway. Many motorists blamed ongoing road construction and the absence of contractors, who reportedly shut down operations for the Christmas period without providing traffic control or temporary relief routes.

The Ministry of Works, however, attributed the earlier disruption to a standoff between truck drivers and military personnel over the weekend. The incident reportedly began after a truck’s windscreen was smashed, prompting drivers to block part of the road in protest.

In response, the Honourable Minister directed the immediate opening of completed sections of the expressway and the deployment of measures to restore traffic flow. According to Engr. Patiko Isah, Federal Controller of Works in Kogi State, free movement was restored around 2:00 a.m. on Monday.

The Ministry urged motorists to remain patient, orderly, and cautious during the peak holiday travel period, reassuring Nigerians of the government’s commitment to safe, efficient, and reliable road transportation nationwide.