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The Digest:

According to reports from stranded commuters, a major protest by a truck driver alleging extortion has brought traffic to a complete standstill on the crucial Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The driver blocked the highway at the Ogere axis, with others joining in solidarity, creating a total paralysis on both carriageways.

Key Points:
  • The protest began when a truck driver claimed officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) seized his vehicle's battery.
  • In response, he obstructed all lanes on the Ibadan-bound side of the expressway.
  • Fellow truck drivers joined the demonstration, extending the blockade to the Lagos-bound lanes, causing a full gridlock.
  • Attempts by Police and Nigerian Army personnel to intervene and clear the obstruction were reportedly thwarted by the crowd.
  • The expressway is a major economic artery connecting Nigeria's commercial capital to other regions.
  • Such blockades recurrently expose the fragility of key transport corridors and tensions between transporters and authorities.
  • The incident highlights ongoing grievances over alleged extortion and operational harassment faced by commercial drivers.
The standstill serves as a stark metaphor for a nation in constant negotiation, where a single seized battery can halt the flow of an entire economy, turning asphalt into a stage for pent-up frustration.

Sources: PM News, Daily Post