Motorists Left Stranded After Collapse of Bridge on Kuje–Gwagwalada Route

Commuters and drivers found themselves stranded on Tuesday when a bridge located at Chukuku village along the Kuje–Gwagwalada road collapsed after heavy rainfall.

Reports from Abuja Metro indicated that vehicles traveling between Gwagwalada and Kuje could not pass, isolating passengers and residents from Chukuku and the nearby village of Kiyi.

At the scene, construction workers involved in the dualization of the road were observed using an excavator to fill in the compromised section with laterite to allow vehicles to pass through, while construction on a new bridge was also in progress.

Motorcycle (okada) riders and tricycle operators had to drop off passengers at the collapse site, causing many commuters to resort to walking the rest of the way.

Some travelers who could not find alternative transportation trekked long distances, and several motorists heading from Kuje towards Gwagwalada decided to turn back.

Frustration was voiced by commuters who attributed the incident to inadequate infrastructure.

Mrs. Agnes James, a civil servant who works at the Gwagwalada Township Clinic but resides in Chukuku village, recounted her experience: "I had to cross the river on foot before boarding a bike to Gwagwalada to reach my workplace."

Another local, Garba Ibrahim, blamed the collapse on a weakened structural foundation, noting that erosion had formed a deep gully that divided the roadway, preventing access for residents and vehicles alike.

In a related situation, hundreds of commuters faced significant delays along the Nyanya–Keffi road after a truck fell, obstructing access to the Abuja city center.

Many passengers, predominantly civil servants and private employees, were seen at bus stops with limited vehicles servicing the route due to severe traffic congestion.

Reuben Daniel, a commuter, expressed his exasperation over this development, revealing that he spent over an hour waiting at the Nyanya bus stop without being able to catch a vehicle to his workplace.

He further criticized the high fares imposed by the few available commercial vehicles, which had surged to almost triple their regular rates.

"The situation is extremely frustrating. I spent over an hour waiting for transport to Wuse, and drivers are now charging N2,000 for that route, up from the usual N800 to N1,000. This is unacceptable," he noted.

Ahmed Aliyu, a businessman, added that the ongoing construction work along the Abuja–Keffi Road aggravated the chaotic circumstances.