Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days now 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 have collapsed.
Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, laments their loss.
A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to disposed off his perishable times cheaply in order not to incur complete lost.
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.
“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 motorists with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage habe necessitated them to be taken a longer route to Benin from Auchi.
“For days now, we have not Ben able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.
“Several protest have been made to get government attention to fix this roads, yet, things sems to be going from bad to worst.
“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 rains is yet o 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.
