Kogi flood: Youths charge passengers N10,000 to ferry cars

Youths are exploiting stranded Nigerians on the flooded Abuja-Lokoja Highway, charging as high as N10,000 to ferry each vehicle across the road.

This came barely 48 hours after the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) closed the road to ensure safety of lives and property following the overflowing of River Niger as a result of release of water from dams.

Because some passengers could not afford to go to Benue State enroute Abuja, they have succumbed to the tactics of the youth.

After payment, the vehicles would be ferried from the Band end of the road to Jamata Bridge.

Owners of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) are even charged higher fees.

At Kabawa, the youth were seen yesterday in the flood  rendering services to motorists after collecting their money.

Passengers without vehicles were ferried between the International Seaman Training Institute to their destinations and they were charged as high as N500.

Passengers travelling to the Eastern part of the country were charged higher.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has sent condolence messages to the Government and People of Kogi State over the devastating effects of the flood which has submerged parts of Lokoja, the state capital and other local governments.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, who led a ministerial delegation sent  by the President to assess the situation, stated that Jonathan was touched by the unfortunate incident and commiserated with the people over the devastating effect of the flooding that has ravaged the state in the last one week.

The minister explained that the delegation was in the state on behalf of the President to assess the level of damages.

The minister said the delegation came with the Managing Directors of top contracting firms in Nigeria, Julius Berger, Dantata and Sawoe and RCC to provide alternative measures for road users trapped on the highway.

He noted that the Federal Government was concerned about the plight of the people and the state government, adding that within the next few days, something will be done to alleviate  the suffering of the people.

He commended the efforts of the state government for providing camp and relief materials for the affected people.

Other ministers in the delegation are Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim Maikofa and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpa.

Source: Compass