Motor parks in Ilorin on Wednesday witnessed heavy presence of passengers as interstate travelling resumed, following the Federal Government’s relaxation of the lockdown.
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The government had on Monday lifted the ban on interstate travelling in the country in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent who went round the motor parks in Ilorin reports that only passengers with face masks were allowed to board the vehicles.
NAN also observed that the parks also provided hand sanitisers for their passengers in accordance with the protocols against the pandemic.
One of the drivers at Offa park, Mr Suleiman Jimoh, said that no passenger was allowed to board any vehicle without proper washing of hands with sanitisers and the use of face mask.
“As you can see, we make it compulsory for every passenger to use face mask. We want to be safe and as well obey government’s directives,” he said.
Another driver, Mr Muyideen Babatunde, said that the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had warned every driver to stick to the government’s directives.
“As you can see, we are restricted to the number of passengers we can carry unlike before. Now, I can only carry nine passengers instead of 18 I used to carry.
“It is better than when we were forced to sit at home,” the driver said.
According to a passenger, Mrs Dupe Oluwole, everything is in order as there is space for each passenger on the bus.
“I sit comfortably without any kind of body contact in the vehicle; so, there is no need for panic. I will be in Oshogbo in few hours’ time, by Gods grace,” she said.
Another passenger, Mr Kolawole Emmanuel, said the transport fare was fair and not as high as earlier expected.
“I am travelling to Kabba and the fare is N2,800, which used to attract N2,300. So, there is no big difference.
“I like the organisation at this Offa park,” Kolawole said.
A driver at Idigba park, Mr Taiwo Idowu, expressed satisfaction with the lifting of the ban, adding that the drivers are happy.
“We drivers are very happy with the lifting of the ban; it’s not the passengers alone that are happy. This is because our source of survival is based on travelling.
“We will cooperate with the government and do what is expected of us, so that the government doesn’t change its mind on the ease of the ban,” Idowu said.
There was orderliness at the Kwara Express park as passengers were not allowed to queue to avoid body contact.
One of the drivers at the park, Mr Segun Michael, said that no driver was allowed to carry overload.
“We give them number and ticket immediately they come in and place them on available bus.
“No room for lobby. We have a special task force within ourselves, in charge of compulsory use of face masks and other preventive measures,” he said.