The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Saturday, advised motorists and other road users plying the Benin-Ore Expressway in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State to find alternative routes, as protesters have blocked the expressway again.

The protesters, kicking against the scarcity of redesigned naira notes, locked down the expressway and put born-fires to disrupt the free flow of traffic.

The protesters who began their protest on Friday on the expressway returned to the axis again on Saturday, grounding commercial activities and leaving motorists and other road users stranded.

Sikiru Alonge, the FRSC unit commander in Ore, told journalists that the traffic congestion on the expressway made it challenging to control the traffic for motorists and road users.

He also urged motorists and other road users caught up in the traffic congestion to exercise patience, telling others who are yet to get to the area to find alternative routes to continue their journeys.

Mr Alonge called on government authorities to deploy other security agencies to join FRSC in moving the congestion on the axis.

“The Ore-Benin expressway is blocked right because of protesters, those in the traffic congestion should exercise patience, but motorists and other road users who are yet to get to the axis should find alternative routes to continue their journeys.

“I also implore authorities at the State and Local Government level to deploy other security agencies in assisting the FRSC personnel in controlling the traffic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Funmilayo Odunlami, the police public relations officer in Ondo, told journalists over the telephone that police personnel had been drafted to the area to guide against a breakdown of law and order.

“We are warning the youths not to take laws into their hands because we will not tolerate the destruction of government property or breakdown of law and other under any guise,” Mr Odunlami said. 

(NAN)