What should be a joyful trip home for Christmas and New Year has turned into pure suffering for many Nigerians heading east. Journeys that should take 7–8 hours are dragging into overnight nightmares. Gridlock, bad roads, broken-down trucks, illegal checkpoints, extortion, harassment… all wrapped into one exhausting experience.

Families slept in cars, motor parks, or paid for unplanned hotels. Children cried from hunger and heat. Some people literally advised others to carry two days’ worth of food on the road. Imagine that.

From Lagos through Ore, Edo, Lokoja, Asaba — it’s stress upon stress. And the saddest part? This has become “normal.”

Going home should not feel like punishment. Until roads are fixed, illegal checkpoints removed, and basic traffic control enforced, festive travel will keep breaking people instead of bringing joy.