Covid-19: Sanwo-Olu Announces New Public Transportation Measures To Ease Lockdown

Ahead of the Monday expiration of the lockdown imposed by the Federal Government on Lagos State, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos State Government has introduced strict transportation framework for movement and re-opening of businesses.

The set of new guidelines, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in his ninth briefing at the a State House in Marina, are to safeguard the gains which the State had made in the past four weeks in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From next Monday, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government will be implementing the dusk-to-dawn curfew announced by President Muhammadu Buhari last Monday as part of the phased measures to reduce risk of contagion of the COVID-19 disease among the residents and to consolidate on the response strategy deployed to combat the pandemic.

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The Governor’s new framework made fundamental changes to public transportation system to ease lockdown.

Below is the summary of the governor’s new framework for public transportation system.

1. All passenger buses are not permitted to load to full capacity. All commercial vehicles must carry maximum of 60 per cent of full capacity and their drivers must use face mask and observe other prescribed hygiene tips.

2. He also suspended the operation of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, across the State, with the exception of those used for courier and logistics purposes.

3. Drivers of tricycles (Keke NAPEP) operating in unrestricted areas are not to carry more than two passengers per trip.  The passengers must keep appropriate distance.

4. It’s mandatory all commuters wear face masks at all times. In addition to this, they must also  sanitise with alcohol-based sanitizer or wash their hands with soap and running water before and after of every trip.

5. All motor parks and garages must avoid overcrowding and passengers queuing up to board buses should practice social distancing.

6. There will be no standing in all BRT and LBSL bus operations. All air- conditioning systems in public transport systems must be off at all times.

7.  Under no circumstance should vehicles carrying food items have more than seven passengers.

In addition, the Governor announced the restriction of operating hours of water transportation companies to the period between 6am and 6pm daily.

However, the governor added that businesses will be allowed to operate within “Controlled Easing Phase” framework, clarifying that the expiration of the lockdown was not a directive for the full reopening of the economy.

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