COVID-19: Youth group distributes sanitizers to ‘Okada’ riders in Kogi
A socio-political group, Kogi Youth Peace Advocate (KYPA) has distributed sanitizers and medical consumables worth N800,000 to commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) and tricycle (Keke-NAPEP) operators in Lokoja to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Abdullai Ahmed-Rufai, director-general and founder of the group made this known in Lokoja on Monday while speaking with newsmen shortly after the distribution exercise.
He said that the COVID-19 pandemic was real and uurged that all hands must be on the deck to stop its spread in the society, saying that the group targeted the commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators.
Ahmed-Rufai said that a survey carried out in Lokoja revealed that most ‘Okada’ and tricycle operators plying the roads hardly observed the personal hygiene and sanitising directives.
He noted that they lacked sanitizers, thus endangering the lives of their passengers.
Ahmed-Rufai said that the group in the efforts to complement the move by the government to curtail the spread of the pandemic, had engaged in the distribution of sanitisers and other medical consumables to the operators.
“Okada and Keke-NAPEP operators in any society take care of the middle and lower class in the society in terms of transportation needs. The spread of coronavirus can be effective if this vital sector is neglected.
“We saw that lacuna in the sector in the rampaging global COVID-19 battle. That is why our group moved in to assist to prevent the spread of the disease through that sector,” he said.
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Ahmed-Rufai said the group had been on the streets of Lokoja for two days (Sunday and Monday), distributing hand sanitizers to the operators.
He said that the group would continue the distribution as soon as more funds were sourced from interest groups.
The KYPA with membership from the three senatorial districts of the state has been in the forefront of the campaign against cultism, violent extremism and drug abuse among youths in Kogi state.
