by Isi Esene

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Monday released a list of alternative routes which can be used by motorists as a result of the flooding of roads normally used by travellers.

The flooding was caused by the overflowing of the River Niger shutting off vital roads linking the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to many states in the Northern and Southern parts of the country.

The FRSC Deputy Corps Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, reportedly disclosed that the road safety agency has deployed more officers to the area to conduct traffic and prevent a total traffic gridlock.

The commission explained that it blocked the highway “for safety reasons”, as flood had rendered the route impassable.

“Consequent upon the blockade of Abuja-Lokoja higway, FRSC has released alternative routes as follows: vehicles coming from Lagos – Okene – Lokoja- Abuja should use Okene – Ajaokuta – Ayangba – Ankpa – Makurdi Lafiya- Akwanga- Abuja.

“Those coming from the South-East should use Otukpa – Makurdi route. The ones from Abuja to Lokoja should use Akwanga – Lafiya- Makurdi – Ankpa – Okene down to Lokoja with massive deployment of personnel to the alternative routes to ensure free flow of traffic,” the statement read.

There have been massive flooding in many parts of Lokoja, Kogi, and some parts of Edo State which has displaced many people from there homes and caused traffic gridlock on major highways for the past few days.