The Rivers State Government has unveiled measures to ensure that the state remains free from COVID-19.
Commissioner for Transport, Sunny Ejiekwu, told this to newsmen, after a meeting with members of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers in the state.
He said, “The Rivers State Government is committed to ensure that health, life and safety if its citizens, particularly as they are coming from one part of the state to another, given the current situation that has to do with coronavirus.
” The Ministry has met with the stakeholders, National Union of Road Transport Workers and other stakeholders in the transport industry.
“Now, we have decided that commencing from Monday, the 23rd of March, all operators of commercial vehicles and passengers, shall comply with the following regulations.
” All taxis shall admit or take a total of 3 passengers. What I mean is, one passenger in front and two passengers on the passengers side, immediately behind the front seat.
“If you discover that the vehicle already has two persons at the back, you don’t need to force yourself in. Else, if they stop such vehicle on the road, you will be made to come down.
” If there is one passenger already in front, you don’t need to squeeze in because if that happens, somewhere on the road, when the enforcement team catches up with such vehicle, that passenger will be made to alight.
“Now, all buses shall admit or convey a total of five passengers for the Suzuki buses. The 14 seaters or 18 seaters buses will only pick 10 passengers.
” At all bus stops and stations, the passengers are encouraged to maintain regular queues and orderly lines to avoid needless rough contact and struggles leading to altercations and spitting or droplets.
“All taxis and buses are hereby mandated to keep wipes, tissues and other disposal items for use by passengers, to wipe down the car doors and other handles.
” This directives will be supervised and coordinated by the road marshals of the ministry of Transport and the officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers “, he noted.
He further stated that Tricycles, popularly called KEKE NAPEP, will now convey only two passengers at the back seat, behind the driver.
