COVID-19: No car must carry beyond three passengers, FCTA orders

As part of measures to enforce the social distance as recommended by health professionals in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has ordered that no car must carry beyond three passengers.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja, the Director, FCT Road Traffic Services, Wadata Bodinga, cautioned all transport operators to maintain high level of cleanliness in their offices and among their staff.

“While it is advised that FCT citizenry maintain minimal movement and avoid shared taxis and buses where possible during this period, all taxis shall henceforth convey 3 passengers only: one person in the front seat and two persons at the back seats.

“All buses shall convey 1 passenger in the front seat and 2 passengers on other seats with minimum contact maintained. All high capacity buses shall operate at 50% of its capacity and standing shall n longer be allowed.

“All tricycles (where operation is allowed) shall convey 2 passengers only at the back seat and only the rider in the front seat, while all motorcycle operators (where operation is allowed) must ensure to use facemask.” He said

He however called on Abuja residents to adhere strictly to the new guidelines as regards public transportation environment in the FCT, even as he disclosed that the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Abuja Environmental Protection Board in conjunction with other security enforcement agencies have been ordered to ensure full compliance by all.

He stressed the need for all the parks and garages to be regularly sanitized saying, “all vehicles should be regularly cleaned and sanitized amid trips.

“All parks and garages should have alcohol-based sanitizers, hand washing soaps and running water for the use of passengers, drivers and other staff. All vehicles should have alcohol-based sanitizers for the use of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers.

All passengers should sanitize themselves before and after each trip. All drivers and conductors should always wear recommended nose masks while in transit. The use of air conditioner in shared taxis and buses is hereby discouraged.

“All taxis and buses should keep and restock their vehicles with disposable wipes, tissues and other items for use by passengers to wipe down the car doors and other handles.

“Passengers are also expected to report any operator or company that does not comply with these guidelines to the FCT Transportation Secretariat or call DRTS (VIO) Call Centre on 0700022852846, 07047008000, 08188889913.”

Speaking further, he strongly warned that it is an offence to admit passengers or be allowed to be conveyed in vehicles or tricycles in excess of these guidelines, even as he advised all commuters and passengers to maintain regular queues and orderly lines while maintaining social distancing to avoid needless contacts and struggles that might lead to altercations and spitting or droplets.

Bodinga further explained that the enforcement of these guidelines is also applicable to operation of staff buses by governmental agencies, construction companies and other corporate organizations