The South East Coalition for Good Governance has warned over the severe hardship faced by travelers from the South East returning home for Christmas, following a wave of viral videos documenting the ordeal.
The coalition called on federal and state governments to take immediate measures to alleviate congestion, improve road conditions, and provide emergency assistance to those affected during the peak travel period.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chris Anuforo, Coordinator, and John Kalu, Secretary of the group, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
According to the group, thousands of citizens are stranded for hours, with some spending up to two days on major highways such as the Abuja–Lokoja road. Travelers coming from Lagos and other regions are also experiencing similar delays and stress.
“These recent videos vividly show the agony Nigerians from the South East endure just to return home for the festive season,” the coalition said in a statement. “The scenes of people stranded for over 48 hours on major highways are deeply disturbing and entirely preventable.”
The coalition described the situation as “unacceptable,” stressing that the stress, excruciating pain, and physical exhaustion faced by travelers highlight the government’s failure to ensure safe and functional road infrastructure.
They also urged long-term investments in road maintenance and infrastructure development, noting that the recurring hardship during festive periods reflects systemic neglect that must end.
“The people deserve safe, reliable roads and the dignity of reaching home without life-threatening delays,” the statement concluded.
