Heavy Gridlock at Onitsha Head Bridge, As Drivers Protest Extortion by Navy

By Izunna Okafor, Onitsha

Travelers and other road users are currently stuck and stranded at the Onitsha Head Bridge end of the Enugu—Onitsha Expressway in Anambra State, as well as the Niger Bridge and the Asaba axis of the Bridge Head.

As at the time of filing this report, drivers of various articulated vehicles, including lorries, tankers and tippers were said to have blocked up the road in protest.

It was gathered that the protesting drivers are demonstrating their feelings against extortion by some naval officers at the bridge head, who usually collect N1,000 from each of them before allowing them pass the bridge.

An eyewitness said the extortion by the navy officials had been happening for a long time now in the area, until one of the drivers refused to settle them as usual on Saturday, which led to the naval officers bursting his vehicle's tire.

This, the source said, angered other articulated vehicle drivers, who insisted that the naval officers must replace their member's tire, while also using the opportunity to register their displeasure over that inexplicable extortion, as well as demand an immediate end to it; hence blocking up the road with their lorries.

Reactions of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Command are yet to be received on the matter, as at the time of this publication.