On Monday, commuters traveling along the Keffi-Abuja expressway were caught in a severe traffic jam as military officers unexpectedly set up a roadblock to conduct vehicle inspections before entering the capital.
The checkpoint, located at the Sani Abacha barracks near the AYA roundabout, caused significant disruptions without prior notice.
The sudden implementation of the checkpoint resulted in a massive traffic backlog extending over 12 kilometers to the Nyanya Bridge. This left numerous civil servants, traders, and other commuters from Nyanya, Karu, Maraba, and Masaka unable to reach their workplaces in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Many frustrated commuters, after being stuck for hours, abandoned their plans and returned home.
This roadblock comes just days before a scheduled nationwide protest against economic hardships in Nigeria. Various youth groups have announced plans to start demonstrations on August 1, citing the increasing cost of living and economic difficulties as their primary grievances.
The sudden military roadblock and resulting traffic jams have heightened tensions as the upcoming protests draw closer, adding to the stress and frustration of commuters.
