As the partial ease to the Covid-19 lockdown commences on Monday, May 4th, the Lagos State Government has issued new guidelines for...
As the partial ease to the Covid-19 lockdown commences on Monday, May 4th, the Lagos State Government has issued new guidelines for the transportation operations within the state for the next two weeks.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, in his address, stated that the new guidelines are proactive measures being put in place by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prevent a possible increase in the spread of the deadly virus among the commuting public through transportation activities when gradual ease of the lockdown commences.
Oladeinde emphasized that effective from Monday, 4th of May, all private and commercial commuter operations within Lagos shall be between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm daily, stressing that all commuters must wear protective nose masks, wash their hands with soap under running water and use alcohol-based sanitizers before and after each trip.
The government warned that it would, through its Committee set up concerning the abandoned vehicles, enter any workshop that fails to comply and tow the vehicles away.
Declaring the prompt suspension of all inter-state movements and undertakings, Oladeinde referenced that the choice was taken to successfully oversee and control movement inside the city. This will also help to measure the degree of accomplishment of the different techniques put in place by the State Government to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
He also reiterated that the ban on the use of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, for commercial activities still continues concerning the physical distancing rule as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), hence all motorcycle operations are advised to cease in the state.
The Commissioner also maintained that all transport operators and companies must mandatorily disinfect their vehicles, parks, and garages without fail. Concerning this, they are expected to collaborate with the State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources on the standard of disinfectants approved by the State Government for use.
He also warned all commercial passenger vehicles not to exceed 60 percent of their capacity at this crucial time, while the physical distancing rule must be obeyed both at the parks and in the buses, restating that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Lagos Bus Services Ltd (LBSL) vehicles must not convey more than 21 passengers per trip, must not permit standing in their buses and should endeavor to keep the air-conditioning(A.C) systems switched off always.
“In the same vein, yellow buses, popularly called ‘Danfo’, must not carry more than eight passengers (two on a row), tricycles are to carry just two passengers at the back, while private car owners must also observe the physical distancing,” Oladeinde affirmed.
