Motorists travelling on the Lokoja-Abuja highway have been stranded in heavy traffic just days before Christmas.
The congestion has persisted for three consecutive days, frustrating drivers along the route.
Motorists interviewed by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) said they had been on the road since early Saturday with no sign of movement.
“It is now 8 p.m., and I have been here since 7 a.m. with my family, heading to Enugu,” one motorist said.
The gridlock has been most severe around Koton Karfe.
Reports indicate that two fallen trucks obstructed the highway, causing a three-to-five-mile backlog of vehicles, with some commuters forced to take dusty off-road diversions to bypass the blockage.
Security operatives, including personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have been deployed to ease the congestion.
The Kogi state government had initiated measures to prevent traffic jams on the highway ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.
A team from the state government, led by Jerry Omodara, state security adviser, inspected critical sections of the highway and identified areas requiring urgent attention to ensure smooth vehicular movement.
Omodara said the exercise was approved by the state executive council to avert recurring festive season gridlock.
The state government added that the interventions were aimed at ensuring safe and seamless travel for commuters during the holiday period.