Travellers Count Losses, Recount Ordeal After Experiencing 4

A prolonged gridlock on the Agbor-Benin highway in Edo State has reportedly caused huge losses for travellers and motorists, with a passenger transporting millions of naira worth of catfish allegedly losing the fish after being trapped in traffic for four days.

According to reports circulating on X, the catfish reportedly died after spending days stuck in the gridlock, amid poor ventilation and the inability to properly care for them during the prolonged journey.

An X user, @HarmlessHQ, described the incident as heartbreaking, saying the passenger lost the catfish reportedly worth millions of naira after spending four days in the traffic.

“This is really heartbreaking and painful. A passenger stuck in the Agbor gridlock has lost their catfish worth over millions. The catfish reportedly died in the gridlock after four days of no food and suffocation. We’re talking about millions here.”

“This is the part of business nobody tells you about,” the user said, while expressing concern that passengers had to spend four days in traffic because of the poor condition of the road.

The reported loss has added to growing concerns over the worsening situation on the Benin -Onitsha Expressway, where heavy rainfall, potholes, muddy sections, poor drainage and damaged portions of the road have contributed to severe congestion.

Videos circulating on social media showed frustrated travellers describing the situation as unbearable, with some reportedly abandoning their vehicles and walking to their destinations.

The gridlock has also reportedly affected emergency transportation.

Reacting to the situation, another X user, @Ndukwe_umeh, claimed that an ambulance had been trapped in the gridlock for three days while transporting a corpse to the eastern part of the country.

“An ambulance was trapped for three days with a corpse they’re conveying to the East. Imagine the situation.”

Beyond the inconvenience caused to travellers, the prolonged traffic is taking a serious toll on businesses and individuals who depend on the highway to transport goods, particularly perishable products.

For traders, farmers and transporters, being stranded on the road for several days can result in devastating financial losses.

The reported death of the catfish offers a striking example of how poor road infrastructure can affect businesses far beyond the cost of transportation.

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The situation has also renewed criticism of the government’s handling of Nigeria’s road infrastructure, with some commuters questioning the emphasis on new major projects while existing highways remain in poor condition.

For travellers stranded on the Agbor-Benin route, the immediate concern is simply finding a way out of the gridlock after days of uncertainty, discomfort and mounting losses.

The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for authorities to repair damaged sections of the highway, improve drainage and ensure that critical transport routes remain accessible, particularly during the rainy season.

For the owners of the reportedly lost catfish, however, the consequences of the gridlock are already being counted in millions of naira.