The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Command, has urged road transport unions and fleet operators to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines to stop the spread of the virus.
The FCT Sector Commander, Mr. Gora Wobin, made the call during a meeting with road transport unions on Monday in Abuja.
Wobin stressed the need for total compliance with the protocols laid by the Nigeria Centre for Disease (NCDC), as the interstate travel ban has been lifted.
He also urged the unions to follow the FRSC’s guidelines to also help stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We need a total collaboration in preventing the spread of coronavirus pandemic as the lift on the interstate travel ban is not a means of overloading and speeding.”
According to him, interstate travel ban lifted by the Federal Government should be seen as measures to help curtail the spread, so all hands must be on deck.
“I know quite well that some of the drivers might want to speed to meet up with all the time they did not work during the lockdown.
“That is why we are here to share with you some of the things that would help reduce road crashes on our roads and the spread of the virus,” he said.
Wobin said that social distancing, reduction of loading capacity by 50 percent, use of face masks by drivers, and commuters were still the measures to curtail the spread of the virus.
According to him, the prohibition of the use of air conditioners on public transport, especially on a long journey, intensive hygienic system, and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be adhered to strictly.
He said that there must be total compliance to the protocols to ensure safety at various parks in FCT, adding that washing of hands with soap under running water should start from the entrance of every park.
” We will deploy operatives to monitor compliance level in all the motor parks just as we have been doing before,” he said.
Responding, President, National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycles Owners and Riders Association, (NACTOMORAS), Mr. Musa Ibrahim commended the Sector Commander and the Corps for the sensitization and enlightenment.
Ibrahim said that the transport operators, especially the executives of the transport unions would endeavor to comply with the directives and ensure the drivers does the same.
He added that the union was poised to partner with road safety in ensuring safety and strict compliance with the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
“As road transport unions, we will do our best in ensuring full and total compliance with COVID-19 protocols, ” he said
Newsmen reports that the road transport unions present were NACTOMORAS, RTEAN, NURTW, NARTO, and ACOMORAN.
