Nigerians trapped in severe traffic congestion on a major road near Benin, Edo State, have reportedly resorted to clearing bush paths to escape the gridlock, with a video of the unusual scene circulating widely online.
The footage, shared on X on August 24, 2026, shows men and women cutting through vegetation with machetes and other tools while creating muddy tracks around the congested road.
Commuters Turn to Bush Paths
The video shared by political analyst and writer Obiasogu David (@afrisagacity) showed people moving through a vegetated area as vehicles remained visible in the background.
“ Nigerians trapped on the Benin road are creating extra paths in the bush to escape the gridlock,” David wrote while sharing the footage.
Other videos circulated on the same day showed similar traffic conditions along sections of the Agbor-Benin Expressway and related bypasses in Edo State.
One traveller reportedly said he spent about 14 hours caught in the gridlock while travelling towards Asaba.
Road Conditions Worsen Travel Delays
The latest incident comes days after commuters reported spending several hours trapped on the Benin City Bypass because of failed road sections, deep mud and potholes.
Some passengers had criticised the Federal Government over the condition of the route, questioning the priority given to major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway while existing highways continue to deteriorate.
Residents and motorists have also protested the condition of the Benin-Agbor Bypass and called for urgent repairs.
Reconstruction Still Ongoing
The Agbor-Benin corridor and connected routes form an important transportation link between the South-West, South-South and South-East.
Reconstruction of the wider Benin-Agbor-Asaba highway is ongoing under a concession arrangement, but some sections remain difficult for motorists to navigate.
Poor drainage, potholes, flooding and damaged road surfaces have repeatedly caused prolonged traffic delays, vehicle breakdowns and losses for transporters and businesses.
Earlier incidents involving flooding and road blockages along the Ore-Benin corridor have also highlighted the longstanding infrastructure problems affecting travel in the region.
