Many motorists and commuters plying the Bida-Minna, Bida-Lambata and Bida- Mokwa federal roads are stranded as drivers of heavy trucks block the roads, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The drivers are protesting what they described as the poor condition of the roads.
NAN reports that vehicles have not been allowed into Bida from Minna or Lambata-Agie- Bida road because of the blockade in the last twenty-four hours.
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The protesters have also blocked the Gurara bridge to prevent motorists from coming in and going out of Minna’s state capital.
Abubakar Musa, a resident of Bida town, told NAN in a telephone interview that several commercial vehicles from Lagos and states were stranded in Bida due to the blocking of the road by the heavy truck drivers.
Musa said that it had been tough for road users and residents of Bida over the action of the truck drivers who blocked the major highway.
” The action has affected business activities while some school children could not access their schools.
” Worthy of mention is also the threat posed by some of the fuel-laden trucks, especially with few individuals seen smoking around the scene, “ he said.
” The protesting drivers said that being a major link between the South and the North, the route is left with only one alternative, which is the already dilapidated Bida- Agie-Lambata road.
“They claimed that for days now, it has become difficult to navigate as its condition has worsened,” he said.
Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, a commuter, said:” I have been stranded for almost twenty hours in Bida, on my way to Minna from Lagos.
” I can’t move since yesterday, so also a lot of commercial drivers and their passengers.
Reacting to the demand of the articulated vehicle drivers to allow them to ply the Bida – Minna road, the state Commissioner for Works, Malam Mamman Musa, said the request would not be granted.
Musa, however, said that they would do palliative works on the Bida – Lambata route to make it motorable.
Hajiya Maryam Mustapha, a Minna resident, commended the state government’s efforts in the ongoing reconstruction of Minna-Bida Road.
” I commend the commitment of the state government for not allowing heavy trucks to be plying Minna- Bida road to enable the contractors handling the project to do quality work.
“The decision of the state government to prevent heavy trucks plying Minna-Bida Road is the best thing as it has reduced road crashes.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Monday Kuryas, said the police would ensure that law and order prevailed in the area.
” We have deployed sufficient personnel in Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area and Bida Local Government Area to ensure law and order.
