COVID-19 Compliance: Commercial Drivers Heed Social Distancing Directives, Appeal To Others

As part of efforts to kick out coronavirus in Rivers State and in observing directive by the Rivers State government, commercial taxi drivers, especially those of Rumuola/Rumuigbo axis have resorted to carrying one passenger in front and two at the back as a way of keeping social distancing in their transport service.

Speaking on the imperative of social distancing protocols, one of the leaders of the taxi drivers at Rumuola park, Chief Andrew Agwu, noted that it is important for those in the transport sector to keep the law in order to save lives.

Chief Andrew stated that since Governor Nyesom Wike had made a pronouncement on the issue, his division of the commercial taxi operators decided to comply. “That is why you see our drivers carrying only one passenger at the front seat and only two at the back seat. We have been told that contact with an infected person can also cause the spread of the virus. So, we need to cooperate

“Although, commercial drivers, like other critical stakeholders are feeling the impact of the coronavirus in our activities on daily basis, it is worth doing the right thing for business to continue.

“If we are to count the cost, I will say we are now restricted to three passengers, instead of five. No driver should load more than five passengers per trip. The only time the drivers can accommodate more passengers is when two or three persons come down from their taxis and they carry same number to refill their vehicles,” he said.

Chief Andrew also lamented the hike in transport fare as drivers now charge N100 as against N50 per passenger, boasting that his unit are among the few transport operators to comply.

But, one of the drivers found loading his taxi by the market junction at Rumuola said that, even though he was complying to social distancing, he did not believe in the reality of coronavirus infection. The young driver, who pleaded to be anonymous, said he heard a lot of debate about COVID-19, he was yet to see a victim of the virus being shown in the media in the state and the country at large. According to him, he needed to see faces of the persons infected to believe.

Another driver plying Rumuola/Rumuigbo routes, Chidi Achor, thanked the Rivers State government for efforts being made so far. He pleaded with the authorities to consider soft loans for commercial transport operators to cushion the effects of coronavirus on their business.

He lamented that since the outbreak of COVID-19, influx of people in and out had been reduced, leading to low activities on their part. But Chidi expressed the hope that everything will be over, while calling on other commercial drivers in other locations, especially those plying Aba road to ensure social distancing in their vehicles.