AWC Transport Desk
As Nigerians from the South, and other regions embark on their annual festive homeward journey ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, thousands of travellers found themselves forced to spend the night on the road, trapped in massive traffic logjam.
The worst areas recorded in these gridlocks are Lokoja for travelers on the North – South journey and at the highly dilapidated Benin Bypass Circle—a key junction and interchange linking the East-West and major Southern highways.
The chaotic scenes, which began to build up early last week, is widely attributed to the bad portions and construction on the Lokoja axis, as well as the dilapidated condition of the roadway around the Benin bypass, which has long been criticised by commuters, transport unions and civil society as one of the country’s most dangerous and poorly maintained traffic chokepoints.
A Festive Ritual Turns Painful
Every yuletide season, millions of Nigerians travel from cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and beyond to reunite with loved ones in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and other states.
This mass movement, often starting earlier in December, is a deep-rooted cultural tradition, but one that has repeatedly exposed the country’s woeful transport infrastructure.
This year, the pressure on the North – South and West – East corridors reached breaking point as travellers heading Southeast-wards from the North and Southwest, mostly Lagos, encountered long delays caused by:
- Rough, gully holed road surfaces and poorly drained shoulders
- Narrow lanes due to construction and lack of proper diversion routes
- Backup from heavy trucks, accidents and PSVs forced to crawl through the bad patch
- Inadequate traffic management and security presence
With vehicles barely moving, many commuters were left with no option but to remain on the logjam and even spend the night on the road, adding stress, safety concerns and additional costs to what should be a joyful journey home.
Public Outcry Grows
Social media has been rife with videos and testimonies from stranded travellers. One commuter captured hours of slow movement around the bypass, while others shared images of families sleeping in their cars under open skies.
A transport union official lamented the lack of visible action by relevant government agencies, saying, “We have warned repeatedly about the dangerous state of these roads, especially during the rainy season and peak travel periods. But nothing sustainable has been done. It’s painful to see Nigerians suffer like this while doing holiday trips that should be fanfare.”
Why Governments Must Act
The recurring Christmas gridlock raises questions about government planning, palliative responses and infrastructure prioritisation:
1. Predictable Surge, Predictable Problem
The annual travel spike is a known phenomenon. With millions on the move, traffic management plans, temporary resurfacing, diversion arrangements and enhanced patrol teams should be part of seasonal preparation.
2. Suffering Instead of Solving
While temporary fixes—such as police escorts or traffic diversions—help somewhat, long-term road rehabilitation and expansion are non-negotiable for safety and efficiency. The Beginning Bypass corridor is a major artery serving the East, South–South and South–West regions; its failure hurts commerce and lives alike.
3. What Travelers Need
What travellers need is safe, smooth pavement and structured traffic management that allows steady movement.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
Commuters, advocacy groups and local leaders have called on:
- Federal Ministry of Works to expedite urgent repairs and resurfacing
- State governments along the corridor to coordinate traffic management plans
- Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to boost patrols, first-aid and towing support
- Nigeria Police Force to maintain order and prevent roadside robberies
A civic activist noted, “This isn’t just about roads; it’s about dignity, safety and respect for human life. Commuters shouldn’t pay with their nights or risk their safety every yuletide because critical roads are ignored.”
The Bigger Picture
The Benin Bypass Circle and Lokoja traffic debacle are symptomatic of a wider national infrastructure challenge—one that affects agricultural markets, industry supply chains, tourism and everyday mobility.
With fiscal space available through recent revenue gains and budget allocations, critics argue that government at all levels should prioritise real, visible road projects rather than reactive rhetoric.
Conclusion
As thousands strained through the night to reach festive reunions, the logjam at Lokoja and the Benin Bypass Circle became more than just an inconvenience—they are a reminder of infrastructure neglect and the urgent need for responsive planning.
With a renewed political focus on grassroots welfare and economic activity, many Nigerians are asking whether this holiday suffering will finally drive lasting road improvements rather than temporary sympathy.
For now, the roads remain the holiday story of 2025—an annual ritual of hope marred by avoidable hardship.
Stay tuned to AWC for updates on government responses to this travel crisis and follow-up reports on road repair initiatives across the South Eastern corridor and other high mobility areas of the country.
