FRSC Triumphs as Abuja-Lokoja Highway Gridlock Eases with Opening of 2nd Lane

August 19, 2025

The traffic gridlock on the Abuja-Lokoja highway has eased, bringing relief to motorists and commuters, following the opening of a second lane by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

Reports from Koton-Karfe on Tuesday indicate that traffic is now moving freely in both directions — from Lokoja to Abuja and from Abuja to Lokoja — during the early hours of the day.

According to Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, the FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi, the severe gridlock that started on Sunday has finally been resolved through decisive and strategic interventions.

“We took a proactive measure by meeting with the Federal Ministry of works and the construction companies along the route so as to mitigate on finding possible solutions.

“Part of it is that the contractors should fast-track works and create alternative road to ease vehicular movement.

“As it is, the gridlock at the Koton-karfe and environs has drastically reduced. Thanks to the combined efforts of operatives mobilised from RS8.3 Kogi Sector, RS8.33 Koton-karfe Unit Command, Corridor 3 and Military Personnel,” he said

He said that cars were diverted to use the Lokoja/Abuja lane, under construction, to mitigate traffic congestion within the corridor.

The Sector Commander reiterated that the major cause of the gridlock was lane violation, indiscipline and impatience of motorists of smaller vehicles.

According to him, FRSC has deployed more personnel to the Koton-Karfe axis to biff up petrol for visibility and placed on red alert to mitigate against traffic congestion.

He appealed to motorists to display maturity and discipline in driving on the highways to avoid a reoccurrence of the bitter gridlock that inconvenient a lot of travellers.

FRSC had expressed its frustration over motorists’ impatience along the Abuja-Lokoja highway, which caused traffic gridlock since on Sunday.

The gridlock had subjected motorists and commuters to an untold hardships as travellers were spending between eight and ten hours getting to Abuja or Lokoja.