PRESS STATEMENT
Monday, 23rd March, 2020.
As part of the efforts by the Lagos State Government to further prevent a State- wide spread of COVID-19 especially in motor parks, garages and other public transportation related environment, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation is hereby notifying the general public through this statement that the following guidelines are henceforth compulsory for all stakeholders in public Transportation in the State to comply with:
1. All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to sanitize their parks and garages regularly and continuously (at least before and after each trip)
2. All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to have at the entrance to their respective parks/garages, washing hand equipment with soap and running water.
3. All Operators are expected to have alcohol based sanitizers in their Vehicles for the use of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers
4. All Operators are not allowed to over crowd/over load their vehicles at this point in time, Passenger’s spacing must be fully observed. NCDC recommends that at least 2m (5feet) distance is required between anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.
5. No standing in all BRT and LBSL bus operations
6. All buses should be at 60% capacity and not 100% (i.e danfo and other commercial buses)
7. All Air Conditioning System in public transport be put off
8. All public transport Operators/Company must have temperature reader to test each passenger before boarding the bus
9. All drivers and conductors should always wear hand gloves and nose guides while in transit
10. All passengers are also required to sanitize themselves before and after each trip
11. Passengers are also required to regularly wash their hands with soap and running water before and after each trip
12. Operators/Companies and passengers are expected to report any suspected case of COVID-19 to the Ministry of Transportation or call 08000CORONA
13. Passenger are also expected to report any Operator/Company that does not comply with these guidelines to the Monitoring Officer at sight or write to the Ministry, stating the Vehicle Registration Number, Park and Time.
With this directives well disseminated to you our transport Stakeholders and the men of the realms of fourth estate, we are confident that together we can put off this ranging fire of COVID-19.
Together we can stop further spread of the virus in Lagos State and Nigeria.
I thank you for listening and God bless.
Signed:
Dr Frederic Oladeinde
Hon. Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State.
*I am glad to issue this Communiqué*
following the joint meeting between the Ministry of Transport and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other Stakeholders in the Transport Sector in Rivers State.
Everyone is aware of the challenges being faced by the global community around the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Government of Rivers State is committed to ensure the health, life and safety of its citizens; particularly as they commute from one part of the State to the other or from our State to other States.
Commencing from Monday the 23rd of March, 2020, all Operators of Commercial Vehicles and Passengers shall comply with the following regulations:
1. All Taxis shall admit or take a total of 3 passengers namely one person in the front seat and Two persons at the passenger sides immediately behind the front seats.
2. It is an offence to condone, connive or be an overloaded passenger. A person is said to be overloaded if found seated next to the door either in the front section of the vehicle or on the door side for the passenger immediately behind the front seats.
3. All buses shall admit or convey a total of :
a). 5 passengers for Suzuki buses
b). 10 passengers for 14/18 Seater Buses. One passenger in the front seat and Three passengers per seat row subsequently.
c). 2 passengers at the back for Keke. Just the rider in the front seat and Two passengers at the back
4. It is an offence to condone, connive or be an overloaded passenger. A person is said to be overloaded if found seated next to the door either in the front section of the vehicle or on the door side for the passenger immediately behind the front seats.
5. Further, effective from the 23rd of March, 2020, at all Bus Stops and Stations, all commuters and passengers shall maintain regular Queues and orderly lines to avoid needless rough contacts and struggles leading to altercations and spitting or droplets.
6. All Taxis and Buses shall keep and restock their vehicles with wipes, tissues and other disposal items for use by passengers to wipe down the car doors and other handles.
7. These directives shall be supervised, coordinated and enforced by the Road Marshalls of the Ministry of Transport, Rivers State and NURTW officials.
Members of the public and the Transport operators are enjoined to give the State Government their fullest support at this challenging moment of our collective existence.
To ensure compliance, members of the public are enjoined to call these numbers in case of noncompliance by drivers, conductors and passengers:
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
*Sir. Hon. Sam Soni Ejekwu*
Commissioner, Ministry of Transport,
Rivers State.
