KADUNA/ABUJA: Hundreds of travellers, motorists and commercial vehicle operators were left stranded for several hours on Monday, November 9, following a massive traffic gridlock along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

The gridlock, which occurred around Gidan Busa, was reportedly triggered by multiple accidents involving long vehicles, bringing traffic movement to a near standstill on the busy highway.

According to reports, the traffic congestion stretched over a considerable distance, leaving motorists and passengers trapped under the scorching sun for hours as efforts to restore normal movement appeared slow.

Several frustrated travellers were seen abandoning their vehicles and standing by the roadside while waiting for the traffic situation to improve.

The congestion also affected the transportation of goods and livestock, with trucks conveying cattle and other commercial cargo caught in the standstill.

Photographs from the scene showed long queues of vehicles stretching as far as the eye could see, highlighting the severity of the disruption on one of Nigeria’s major intercity highways.

A traveller caught in the gridlock appealed to the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the Kaduna-Abuja highway project, stressing that prolonged traffic congestion continues to expose road users to unnecessary hardship.

The traveller particularly expressed concern about the difficulties motorists experience during festive periods when traffic volume along the route increases significantly.

The Kaduna-Abuja highway is a critical transportation corridor connecting Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna and other parts of the northern region. It serves thousands of commuters, commercial drivers, businesses and freight operators daily.

The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for improved road infrastructure, effective traffic management and timely completion of ongoing highway construction works.

Beyond the inconvenience to commuters, prolonged gridlocks on major highways can disrupt commercial activities, delay the movement of essential goods and increase the exposure of travellers to security and safety risks.

As of the time of this report, there was no official statement on the full extent of the accidents or when normal traffic movement would be completely restored.