Don’t pick passengers without face masks, Edo warns transporters

The Edo State Government has urged members of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) not to pick passengers who are not wearing face masks, as part of measures to check the spread of the second wave of coronavirus (COVID-19).

A member of the Edo State COVID-19 Risk Communication Team, Mrs. Irene Uabor, made the appeal while addressing members of the NURTW, during a sensitization program with stakeholders in the transportation sector.

She said, “The need to observe social distancing in vehicles and wearing of face masks by all cannot be overemphasis. If these measures are in place, we can curb the spread of COVID-19.

She said the state government would be rolling out more measures to curb the spread of the highly-infectious virus, adding, “Don’t carry any passenger who is not wearing a face mask. If we all practice all the guidelines put in place by the authorities, we will win the war against the deadly disease together.”

Labor urged the participants at the sensitization program to pass the message to other members of the union, noting, “Go back to your communities and motor parks and educate other members of your union on the need to practice all the guidelines put in place to check the spread of coronavirus.

“COVID-19 is real. Right from the first wave and now the second wave, it is real. The symptoms are real. We should stop the rumor that COVID-19 is not real,” She added.

In his response, the state Vice Chairman of NURTW, Mr. John Odiase assured that the leaders of the union would educate other members on the need to practice all the guidelines that would help to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Odiase expressed appreciation to the state government for organizing the program, assuring that the union will sustain collaboration with the government in checking the spread of the pandemic.