NAN-H-47
Blockade
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Dec. 19, 2016 (NAN) Gradual movement of trafic has started on Abuja-Lokoja-Okene highway which was blocked for many hours in the early of Monday by protesting truck drivers.
The drivers were protesting exorbitant taxes by the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service.
According to the state Commissiiner of police, Mr Abdulahi Chafe , the drivers and other stakeholders will meet on Dec. 21 to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The protest led to total blockade of the major highway for hours, thereby inflicting serious pains on passengers coming to and from the Northern and Southern parts of the country.
The drivers eventually called off their protest after a meeting with the officials of the board and the state Commissioner of police.
The state FRSC Sector Cimmander, Mr Abayomi Omiyale, said that normal flow of traffic on the road will be restored within three hours.
He appealed to drivers to be patient and not to resort to over speeding because of the long delay.
Protesting truck drivers have blocked the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene highways since the early hours of Monday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The drivers were protesting the N10,000 daily tax imposed by the Kogi State revenue Service.
The state government, police and the Federal Road Safety Corps were, however, taking measure to ensure free flow of traffic.
No official reaction yet from the state government but the state police Commissioner, Mr Badulahi Chafe is currently in a meeting with the leadership of the truck drivers to end the blockade.
One of the motorists trapped in the gridlock, Mr Isaac Ighure said that he had remained on the same spot on the road for over three hours .
Igure described the development as bad for the state and the country, especially when it is happening few days to Christmas.
The gridlock has stretched to over 30 kilometres as at the time of this report.
The meeting with officials of the truck drivers is holding at the state police command headquarters.
The Police Public Relations Officers, ASP William Aya, who confirmed this to NAN said that the issue would be resolved soonest in order to ease the hardship on motorists and the travelling public. (NAN)
KKA/IS
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz