By Abuja, Nigeria
Severe traffic congestion has gripped the Gwagwalada axis of the Abuja–Lokoja highway following the closure of one lane on the Gwagwalada Bridge, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded for hours.
The disruption has significantly affected motorists heading out of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as those travelling into Abuja from Lokoja, with traffic stretching for long distances along the busy corridor.
As of Monday morning, many civil servants and schoolchildren were forced to abandon vehicles and trek long distances to their offices and schools due to the prolonged standstill.
Although authorities have yet to officially confirm the reason for the lane closure, heavy metal structures were seen on the affected section of the bridge and had not been removed at the time of filing this report.
The gridlock has also led to minor collisions in the area, further worsening the situation and forcing some commuters to cut their journeys short.
