Hundreds of commuters in Abuja were forced to cover long distances on foot as combatant soldiers, policemen and civil defence officers blocked strategic roads while carrying out stop and search activities both on motorists and passengers.
The exercise caused terrible traffic gridlock on most roads that lead residents into the city centre where President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential declaration ceremony was held on Tuesday.
The Kubwa express road was not left out of the severe go-slow. Kubwa is one of the major areas occupied by many residents in the Federal Capital Territory.
Hundreds of commuters were seen stranded at bus stops as many vehicles were trapped in the gridlock.
Soldiers at various checkpoints on the road ordered occupants in suspicious vehicles to disembark. They painstakingly searched the vehicles and even frisked passengers in cars.
Commercial motorcycles hardly ply the Kubwa express road, but on Tuesday, our correspondent observed that some ‘Okada’ operators surfaced on the road.
Passengers on commercial vehicles disembarked and most of them trekked long distances to beat the traffic, while many others boarded commercial motorcycles.
In the city centre, the presence of armed security officials was largely seen. The plight of commuters was however not abated as there was so much traffic on many roads owing to the closure of some strategic routes in the centre.
A Partner with Nets Rights Nigeria, an online pressure group, Mr. John Dada, said the traffic gridlock did not come as a surprise to him and to many in the capital city.
He said, “Anyone who has been following the news should not be surprised with the severe traffic on our roads in Abuja today. It is the President’s (declaration) day and so what do you expect? Take a look in the sky and you will see helicopters also patrolling.
“Although it will cause some form of discomfort on residents, the truth is that it is the President’s day. However, we hope he declares very fast so that the pressure can reduce and our roads can be opened as soon as possible.”Source: Punchng
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