By Michael Olatunji
THE Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has set up Enforcement Task Force on Public Transport Operational Guidelines on COVID-19 in Lagos, to help clamp down on commercial drivers flouting the government directives.
The Task Force, led by Alhaji Mohammed Musa, the State Chairman of RTEAN was inaugurated on Monday at RTEAN Secretariat in Lagos and embarked immediately on enforcement operations at various parks and bus stop in the state.
Musa told reporters after the enforcement operation at some parks and some roads in Alimosho and Amuwo-Odofin local council, that the government’s directive was in the interest of the society.
The RTEAN chief, who frowned at the deliberate disregard of some commercial drivers and conductors to precautionary measures, said the task force would continue to complement the government law enforcement agencies.
“COVID-19 is real and we don’t want to lose any of our members as well as our commuters. Government’s guidelines for public transport are in the interest of our members and the society.
“We constituted this enforcement taskforce of about 100 RTEAN executive members because we know some people will not want comply and government law enforcement cannot be everywhere.
“We are out to implement the directive that the State Government gave us that our buses should not take more than two passengers in each seat and that no more than eight passengers should be in a 14-seater bus.
“Our motive is to support the government and we will not relent. We will be going out daily to parks under our control, bus stops and roads to enforce the new operational guidelines,” the RTEAN boss said.
He said that RTEAN executive members had been duly informed and cautioned on the guidelines, saying the association would not rest on its oars to ensure compliance in the interest of the society.
The RTEAN boss, who ordered excess passengers in several buses stopped on the road to alight, gave scores of them N500 each to board another buses to their destinations.
Musa said that the association had procured some thermometers and deployed two each to various parks for temperature check of drivers, conductors and passengers.
The RTEAN boss called on commercial bus operators to acquire hand sanitizers to sanitize their hands regularly as well as those of passengers before entering their buses.
He said that the unit, chapel and zonal chairmen of the association had been directed to provide hand sanitizers and hand washing facility at various parks where the union was operating.
The chairman advised all members to disinfect their buses every working day.
“If we can continue with what we started today, definitely drivers will comply. We will continue doing this until all drivers comply.
“The Governor meant well with his directives and we should keep law and order to be safe. We have to give social distance in the buses,” he added.
Musa urged its members to adhere strictly to the new guidelines and observe them daily to forestall further spread of COVID-19 through public transport.
The chairman urged bus drivers and conductors to strictly abide by the compulsory use of face masks and social distancing in the buses and the curfew.