By Abdul Lawal

Millions of travellers along Koton-Karfe – Lokoja highway have heaved a sigh of relief following the receding of waters from River Niger which overflew the banks and occupied the major road in Koton-Karfe for days making it difficult for vehicles to move freely to and from lokoja

The development caused heavy
spanning over 20kilometers into Lokoja the Kogi state capital.

For about two weeks, motorists couldn’t access koton karfe end of the River Niger bridge

At the peak of the flood , many travellers spent hours and days on that road

The intensity of the flood forced the Federal Road Safety Corp( FRSC) and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to announce alternate routes for both South -Eastern and South- Western travellers to the North

A traveller from Okene to Abuja told Dailynewscraft that contrary to reports few days ago, the traffic situation in the affected area has completely disappeared while the highway had become free of traffic

“There was no single hold up in the affected area of the highway and most of the security agencies including the officials of FRSC that were heavily present few days ago in the area are no longer there or disaapeared except for very few FRSC official seen around the area”

“I can say that the FRSC are just there in case there are traffic issues that may arise from there, ” a concerned traveller said.

However it was observed that the portion of the highway where the water overflew last week is now in a bad shape and will require urgent attention in order to avoid traffic at the spot when most of the drivers going to the South or North returns to the road.

The traveller also observed that between Lokoja and Koton-Karfe there were many traillers and trucks damaged which were been attended to by mechanics.

There was also palpable fear that if water is released from Dams along Jebba , Kainji and shiroro axis, it may cause water surge at the low bed in Koton-Karfe.

Meanwhile, governor of Kogi state Yahaya Bello has called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state because it has been submerged in water.