By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
In Niger state, vehicular movements have been halted along the busy Lambata-Suleja road following demands from locals who baricaded the road that articulated trucks, trailers conveying scraps to other parts of the country in particular must pay N500 before allowed passage.
The long traffic logjam caused by the barricaded route at Lambata, Gurrara Local Government Area (LGA) by some young locals led to many of the road users spending days and exposing them to risks of attack by criminals.
Eyewitness account told our correspondent how commuters and motorists on far journeys become stranded because the residents mount road blocks to prevent trailers and other articulated vehicles from proceeding without payment of the N500.
Though it was not immediately known if the collectors were working with/for the Niger state revenue board, but passers-by are lamenting that the situation is becoming tensed as residents were heard insisting that they will maintain the blockade for as long as one week if their demands which included repairing bad portions of the roads were not met.
The locals are said not to be happy with the state and federal governments for abandoning the road linking some northern states with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and southern states hence their resolve to take action that will compel relevant agencies to do something about the route.
While the gridlock continues, some of the locals, including women and motorcyclists are making brisk business ferrying travellers across to the other side of the road for agreed fees, while dealers in local delicacies including pastries are smiling to the Banks.
Efforts by our correspondent to get reactions from the Niger State Road Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA) or the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on possible emergency measures to ease sufferings of commuters proved abortive as at the time of this report.
It was also not possible to confirm from the FRSC or any other relevant government road traffic control agencies of any interventions with the intents of ending the gridlock which started to build up since Monday morning for free flow of traffic. NNL.
