How protesting trailer drivers caused serious traffic gridlock in Niger (Photos)
Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD, Lafia
Motorists have blocked Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of the Niger state along Minna to Suleja Road and Bida extending to Lambata roads.
The stranded motorist lamented that the protesting drivers besieged the road exactly on the Gurara bridge between Lambata and Izom since Friday afternoon preventing vehicles from plying the road in and out of Minna and beyond.
The drivers openly appealed to the Federal and State Government to urgently intervene in finding a lasting solution to their problems, “We have spent over four hours here, I am going back to Minna from Suleja when I realized the road is completely blocked.”A driver said.
The protesters insisted that until Niger State Government reopens Bida to Minna Road which has been banned for the Trailers drivers, they would not suspend the ongoing protest.
They blamed the government who directed the closure of Minna to Bida Roads for the past six months forcing them to ply the Bida to Lapai to Lambata Roads which is a nightmare, as they spend days before getting to their destinations.
Similarly, the tanker drivers have also blocked the roads in and out of Bida thereby disrupting vehicular movement.
The protesters who used their vehicles to block major roads also insisted that until the Niger state government reopens Bida Minna road they would not suspend the protest.
A Bida resident, Soode Mohammed narrated how protesting drivers hijacked major roads including the Gbazhi area before Emirs palace, Esso, Siriku junction blocking them all including some street routes, which were blocked by residence due to the influx of vehicles.
When contacted, the state command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
