COVID-19: Lagos issues guidelines for transport operations

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Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka (left) and the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Fredric Oladeinde during the briefing on Thursday.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka (left) and the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde during the briefing on Thursday.

The Lagos State Government on Thursday issued fresh guidelines for transport operations in the state  as part of the controlled easing of Coronavirus lockdown.

At a news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said commercial/commuter operations within the State shall be between the hours of 6am – 7pm daily starting from 4th May, 2020 until further notice.

He said Inter-State Operation/Movement had been suspended until further notice except for essential services, while okada operations had been suspended indefinitely, adding that passengers/commuters were mandated to wear face mask at all times, sanitize with alcohol base sanitizers or wash their hands with soap and running water before and after each trip.

”All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to disinfect their vehicles, parks and garages regularly and continuously in collaboration/supervision of the Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources in order to ensure standards and safety of the disinfectant being used.

“All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to have at the entrance of their respective parks hand washing equipment with running water and alcohol based sanitizers; Disinfectant Companies are to be guided by the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources; Operators are expected to have Alcohol Based Sanitizers in their Vehicles for both Drivers, Conductors and passengers

”Motor parks and garages must not be overcrowded with passengers and commercial activities at any point in time. Social distancing is required for passengers queuing to board buses. NCDC recommends that at least 2m (5feet) distance is required between people; Operators are not allowed to over crowd/over load their vehicles at this point in time. All public buses should be 60% capacity (i.e for Buses 1 passenger with driver in front seat, 2 passengers on the back rows each and 2 passengers for Tricycle),” he said.

Oladeinde also said Trucks and individual transporting foods and other raw materials coming into the State, must comply with guidelines, such that the driver and other individuals on such vehicle must always use face marks and an alcohol based hand sanitizers; while all vehicles carrying food and other agricultural produce in and out of Lagos must not carry passengers more than seven on board.

He added that  vehicles used for the transportation of food items and other services must be disinfected before gaining access into the State’s border and when leaving, under strict monitoring by relevant government agencies.

The Commissioner added that mechanic villages operations within the State shall be between the hours of 9am – 3pm daily, starting from 4th May, 2020 until further notice, adding that they must make available at their respective entrance alcohol base sanitizers, soap and running water facility for visitors, among others.

Oladeinde further said water transport operations within the State shall be between the hours of 6am – 6pm daily starting from 4th May, 2020 until further notice and that passengers/Operators were mandated in addition to life jacket, to wear face mask at all times, sanitize with alcohol base sanitizers or wash their hands with soap and running water before and after each trip, among others.

”Operators and other stakeholders are mandated to comply with these guidelines as the Ministry of Transportation and her enforcement agencies/departments will be deployed for prompt enforcement with heavy consequences,” the commissioner said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES FOR TRANSPORT OPERATIONS IN VIEW OF COVID-19
As part of the efforts by the Ministry to contain the spread of COVID-19 especially as it relates to public transportation in Lagos State and to complement the efforts of Federal Government and the NCDC guidelines on social distancing, the following guidelines are expected to be strictly complied with by all transport stakeholders and the general public:

 

E.
All Boat/Ferry Operators are expected to have Alcohol Based Sanitizers in their Boat/Ferry for Operators and passengers;
Terminals must not be overcrowded with passengers and commercial activities at any point in time. Social distancing is required for passengers queuing to board Boat/Ferry. NCDC recommends that at least 2m (5feet) distance is required between people;
Operators are not allowed to over crowd/over load their Boats/Ferries at this point in time. All public Boats/ferries should be 60% capacity;
Public Transport Operators/Company must have temperature readers to test each passenger before boarding the Boat/Ferry;
Operators/Companies must collaborate with LAWMA for prompt waste disposal at their respective terminals;
Operators/Companies and passengers are expected to report immediately, any suspected case of COVID-19 to the Ministry or call 08000CORONA;
Passengers 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 Boat/Ferry name, terminal and Time of incident;
Operators and other stakeholders are mandated to comply with these guidelines as the Ministry of Transportation and her enforcement agencies/departments will be deployed for prompt enforcement with heavy consequences;
As part of efforts to give these guidelines a State wide publicity, the Ministry of Information and Strategy will through print and paid media assist the Ministry with jingles and public announcement in a bid to achieve the overall objective of winning the fight against COVID-19.

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