With the ban on interstate travels relaxed, operations of commercial land transport has commenced in different motor parks across the country yesterday.

 The land transport companies that functioned interstate, had stopped operations prior to the lockdown, in a bid to curtail the spread of the Corona virus.

 However, they have resumed operations from yesterday, giving the lift of the ban on interstate travels by FG, but our correspondents across the nation has revealed that there is partial compliance to the safety directives, they have also hiked the bus fares.

A visit to Ketu motor park, showed that the bus owners and drivers have failed to adhere to the social distance injunction, as most vehicles conveying passengers from the park to Sagamu, Ogun State, had four people in a row. most people in the park failed to wear face masks.

 A passenger, Olanrewaju Akinyele, detested the greed of the transport operators. he said, “The drivers were determined to make money and so, filled the bus with passengers, most of whom were not bothered because all they wanted was to get to their destinations,” he said.

An official of Chisco Transport Company, who asked not to be identified, said the company had ordered buses with scanners which would soon be delivered.

 The Peace Mass Transit Limited also announced that there would be no increase in bus fares despite the reduction in the number of passengers per trip.

 In Ogun State, some of the passengers going to Ibadan and Ikorodu, in Oyo and Lagos states, respectively, wore face masks at the Sagamu park.

 But the transport workers did not make provision for hand sanitisers and hand washing facilities at the park.The drivers, however, complied with the instruction to carry two passengers per row. 

At the Kuto interstate park, most of the passengers did not wear face masks.

 The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, said the state government would ensure the COVID-19 protocols were maintained at motor parks.

 He said, “We are working hand-in-hand with the transport unions.”

 In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, transport workers were on ground to move passengers.

 Among the parks visited were Abeokuta Park, Apata; Sango Motor Park, Ojoo; Iseyin Motor Park and Agodi Gate Motor Park.

 The park managers in the state provided running water with soap for hand washing and hand sanitisers.

 However, while some of the passengers were seen with face masks, others failed to use them.

 Commercial bus drivers and passengers at the Utako park, Plateau Riders park and others in the FCT did not observe the COVID-19 protocols.

 While most people at the parks did not have their face masks, others who had them did not wear them, while some merely strapped the protective shield under their chins.

   The branch Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Jabi park, Mr Taiwo Oshobu, claimed his union had provided sanitisers and hand gloves for the drivers.

  “We directed our workers to wear hand gloves and it is compulsory for anyone entering the park and passengers to wear a face mask. People have been coming to the park since morning. Over 50 vehicles have left the park today (Wednesday) with passengers maintaining the proper distancing,” he added.

 At the Young Legacy Transport Company on Wahab Folawiyo (Unity) road, Ilorin, Kwara State, intending passengers were allowed to pass through one gate with their temperature taken before they washed their hands and sanitisers applied before they were allowed to pay the transport fares.

 A 14-seater bus was allowed to carry nine passengers, while a Siena bus was allowed to carry only five passengers with all passengers wearing face masks.

 The Manager of Young Legacy Transport, Quazzim Yusuf, told The PUNCH that the company complied with all the directives of the Federal Government.

 Many passengers, who thronged motor parks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to board interstate vehicles lamented the sharp increase in transport fares.

  One of the passengers, who identified himself as Ovie, and claimed to be moving from Port Harcourt to Warri, lamented the rise in the transport fare.

 He said, “The transport fare has increased, but we still pay because there is nothing we can do. I used to pay N2,000 from here to Warri, now it is N4,000, because they have reduced the number of passengers per vehicle.”

 Another passenger said she was asked by the motor park workers to use a face mask before boarding the vehicle.

A manager of one of the motor parks in Waterlines, Port Harcourt, Hanachor Ukwu, said the transport fares were slightly increased because of the reduction of passengers in each vehicle.