Lagos Assembly Tasks Commercial Bus Drivers On Compliance With COVID-19 Protocols

The Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Committee on Transportation is set to commence a tour of major motor parks in the state to ensure adherence to COVID-19 public transportation guidelines.

 

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Temitope Adewale, told journalists in Lagos that the visit would start next week.

 

Adewale, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I in the Assembly, said that the tour was necessary to sensitize the transport unions, their members and passengers not to jettison COVID-19 safety protocols.

 

He said that the primary responsibility of the government remains security and the welfare of the people.

 

According to him, COVID-19 is real and it was important for people to be aware of happenings within their environments.

 

He added that the people should observe the precautionary measures stipulated in the guidelines as they affect public transportation.

 

The lawmaker said: “It is also very important to keep to the COVID-19 precautionary rules and guidelines.

 

“There is now an increase in the patronage of our public transportation system.

 

“The guidelines are clear; once you go against the COVID-19 guidelines and you are caught, it will attract punishment.’’

 

He advised commercial bus drivers and cab operators to stick to the number of passengers COVID-19 guidelines expected them to transport and observe other protocols.

 

“In due course; perhaps next week, we will be visiting all the bus parks as well as the transport unions’ headquarters in the state for talks.

 

“All the bus parks must have sanitisers and hand washing facilities for their members and the travelling public. Before anyone boards the buses, the person must wear face mask.

 

“There must be, most importantly, social distancing inside buses,” he said.

 

Adewale added that schools proprietors and operators should ensure that their schools adhere to all the COVID-19 guidelines before and after reopening.

 

He said that such would include those that would be prescribed by the relevant agencies of government meant to guide the operators of school buses.

 

“For the public transportation sector, it has been a tough situation.

 

“School businesses and offices are being opened not because Coronavirus pandemic has ended; but because of the need to balance all the needs of the people while fighting COVID-19.

 

“Residents of Lagos State must not lose track, we are still combating COVID -19 Pandemic and all hands must be on deck on this,” he added.

 

The lawmaker commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEME agenda for the state, where traffic management and transportation take the central stage.

 

Adewale said that the government had achieved a lot in reducing travel time by adding several high capacity buses to the existing ones under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme.

 

He also said that the records of achievement of the government include: the improvement of some road junctions and the recruitment of more personnel into the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

 

He also applauded to the state government for developing the waterways and the rail system to provide inter-modal transportation system for the people of the state.