Motorists travelling along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Monday, November 9, resorted to dangerous shortcuts to escape hours of traffic congestion caused by multiple crashes and ongoing road construction.
The gridlock occurred around Gidan Busa, shortly before Katari, where accidents involving three heavy-duty vehicles brought traffic to a standstill, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded.
Videos from the scene showed long queues of vehicles stretching along the highway, while some motorists drove off the main road and attempted to navigate alternative paths to avoid the congestion.
The traffic disruption was worsened by reconstruction work, which has narrowed sections of the highway and forced motorists to use temporary diversions.
Some travellers reportedly turned back towards Kaduna, while others considered longer alternative routes through Kachia and Bwari to reach Abuja.
The situation sparked frustration among road users, with one traveller, Khadija Barkindo, expressing anger in a post on X.
“Kaduna–Abuja, if I ever follow this road again, make I turn to yam!” she wrote.
The latest disruption has renewed concerns over the safety and condition of the major highway, which serves as a link between Abuja, Kaduna and other parts of northern Nigeria.
Motorists have called for faster completion of the reconstruction work and improved traffic management to prevent recurring gridlock and discourage drivers from taking potentially dangerous shortcuts.
Travellers stranded as road crashes trigger gridlock on Kaduna-Abuja road