The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says trucks heading to Abuja along the Abuja-Lokoja Highway were being allowed to cross over the once flooded road to ease the fuel scarcity being experienced in the North.

Stephen Dawulung, Kogi FRSC sector commander, made the pronouncement on Monday in Koton-Karfe, near Lokoja.

“We are worried about the news reaching us here that because of the blockage experienced at Koton-karfe along the Abuja-Lokoja highway in the last 10 days, there is serious fuel scarcity in the north.

“The good news is that the flood or water that covered the road is fast receding and the road is visible with vehicles moving side by side from both ends of the road.

“In fact, since yesterday, Sunday, we have been controlling the traffic, which is moving faster and steady with priority to those heading to Abuja to help arrest the sufferings of motorists and commuters up north,” he said.

Mr Dawulung said the long queues that passed Crusher in Lokoja from Koton-Karfe and the other one at Gegu of the other side have greatly reduced due to the free flow of traffic.

He said, “as it is now, the traffic is around Banda, moving towards the long Murtala Mohammed Bridge as we try to allow the trucks to move up north.”

According to him, the traffic at the side from Abuja has drastically reduced and “is around Ozi village not far from Koton-Karfe.

“Another good thing is that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have magnanimously filled up the gullies on the flooded road, which allowed the free flow of traffic,” he said.

Following the inability of petroleum tankers to cross the flooded highway, queues built up at filling stations in Abuja and other northern states due to the scarcity of fuel. 

(NAN)