Motorists plying the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra State had a hectic time navigating their ways on Sunday following a gridlock caused by a truck conveying a 40-ft container which fell on the Mgbaemene axis of the road.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the truck, which was on its way to Onitsha, fell and crossed a part of the road on Thursday.
The driver, coming from the Oba section of the road, was said to have been navigating into the other lane linking another junction as he got to the Mgbaemene area when the incident happened.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident had been causing gridlock in the axis for three days as commuters and motorists spent hours on the road.
Commuters were seen on Sunday resorting to trekking to their various destinations as commercial vehicles and tricycles avoided the axis.
Those who managed to ply the road hike their fares as they navigated through adjoining streets.
As of the time of filing this report on Sunday, the gridlock had worsened as both lanes of the road were completely locked down.
The resultant gridlock stretched from the Mgbaemene Junction to the School of Metallurgy Bus Stop.
However, our correspondent who visited the scene on Sunday saw emergency responders, including naval ratings, struggling to control the traffic.
A stranded commuter, who identified herself simply as Chioma, said, “We have been suffering since Thursday on this road because of the container. It is a pity that for three days now, nothing has been done to remove it from the road.
“The rain that fell on Friday compounded the situation as it caused some sections to be muddy.”
Reacting to the development, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who did not want her name in print as she was not authorised to speak on the matter, said a crane had been ordered for the evacuation of the truck.
While members of the response team were awaiting the crane’s arrival, she urged motorists to exercise restraint and comply with the directives of the response team.
