Economic And Commercial Activities Across Nigeria’s South-South Region

Economic and commercial activities across Nigeria’s South-South region have been severely disrupted by a five-day gridlock caused by the deteriorating condition of major roads, particularly the Benin Sapele-Effurun corridor. The prolonged traffic crisis has left commuters stranded for days and thousands of trucks carrying raw materials, finished goods, fuel and essential commodities trapped on the roads. Some travellers who previously completed South-East to South-West journeys in six to 10 hours are now spending up to 24 hours on the road.Manufacturers in the Edo-Delta axis estimate that they have lost more than N500 billion, as factories shut down because raw materials cannot reach them and finished products cannot be distributed. Perishable goods trapped in transit are

The crisis has also affected interstate transportation, with some operators suspending services on the Lagos-Warri route. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans for palliative works as the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, visits the affected corridor to assess.