Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days owing to the deplorable state of the highway.
The long queue of the stranded vehicles spanned over 10 kilometres from Aviele to Iyamoh axis of the highway.
The Aviele section of the road, like several other parts of the over 140km highway, has collapsed.
Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, lament their loss.
A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to dispose off his perishable goods cheaply in order not to incur complete loss.
Murtala Isiaku said several of his livestock have died owing to long stay without food and water.
According to him, “I tried getting some edible grass for them here to survive, of course, it’s like several persons pursuing fewer materials.
“I am not the only driver carrying goats and other animals, we all have to struggle for the little available to take care of our animals.
“While some have sold off their goods cheaply, I have also seem some discharging their cows here to enter into the bush with the help of herdsmen they hired here.”
Meanwhile, a motorist with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage has necessitated them to take a longer route to Benin from Auchi.
“For days now, we have not been able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.
“Several protests have been made to get government attention to fix this road, yet, things seem to be going from bad to worse.
“This bad Aviele section is only an addition to several other bad portion of the highway from Auchi to Benin.
“We are in for a terrible time this season as the rain is yet to set in fully,” he stated.
It will be recalled that on Monday, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi terminated the contract of the three contractors handling the project from Benin to Obajana in Kogi state for poor performance.
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