A Nigerian traveller has shared a distressing account of being trapped in a massive gridlock on the crucial Abuja-Lokoja highway, highlighting the exorbitant prices of basic necessities like sachet water sold to stranded passengers.
Christiana John's Gridlock Ordeal
The lady, identified as Christiana John, documented her experience in a TikTok video posted from the notorious road on December 22, 2025. She revealed the harsh reality for hundreds of travellers stuck for hours during the festive rush. Her video showed a long line of stationary vehicles, with passengers forced to endure the standstill.
In her narration, Christiana pointed out the opportunistic pricing by local hawkers capitalizing on the desperate situation. She stated that a sachet of pure water at room temperature was being sold for N100, while a chilled sachet went for a staggering N200. This represents a massive markup from the normal retail price.
Public Outcry Over Recurring Road Crisis
The video sparked a flood of reactions from Nigerians online, many expressing frustration over the perennial state of the road. User @Obus commented, "this road has been like this for years and government is doing nothing about it." Another user, @Kakky, questioned the timing of the construction, asking why repairs intensify only during the peak travel period.
Some, like @Bernie, showed little sympathy, noting that severe holiday traffic on that route is an annual expectation. However, others highlighted the human impact. @Yummy Mummy confirmed the severity, stating, "Looks like a joke but that’s where I’ve been since morning, 7 hours of traffic jam."
A Double-Edged Sword for Locals
Despite the hardship for travellers, Christiana John noted a silver lining for some residents. She mentioned in her comments that the gridlock somehow became "a blessing to the villagers around the area," presumably referring to the hawkers making significant sales. She also indicated that the cause of the traffic was ongoing road construction, a fact relayed to those stuck.
The situation on the Abuja-Lokoja road has become a symbol of Nigeria's infrastructure challenges during high-density travel seasons. It forces a difficult choice on citizens: endure grueling road conditions with inflated costs or seek alternative, often more expensive, means of transport like air travel, as suggested by user @aantee.
