The Government of Cross River State has commenced the sales of hand sanitizers to commercial drivers in the state as a measure to curb Coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a statement circulated by Governor Ben Ayade’s aide, Emmanuel Ulayi in Calabar, the government said any commercial driver who fails to comply with the directive to buy and use the sanitizer will face severe consequences.
The statement also directed that the purchase of the hand sanitizers should be made at the office of the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (formerly Department of Public Transport, DOPT) statewide.
“In line with the directive of His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade, of Cross River, staff of AyadeCare have been stationed at the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency for the purchase of hand sanitizers by commercial drivers and members of the public.
“The Director General of the Agency, Comrade Godwin Nyiam, who stated this in his office in Calabar, also revealed that the Agency staff will embark on serious enforcement from Wednesday, March 25, 2020 as part of strict policy to ensure compliance.
“To this end, all commercial vehicles and drivers who have not yet purchase their hand sanitizer are required to go to the Agency office in Calabar to purchase their hand sanitizers, “In the same vein, all Keke (tricycle) operators are now required to carry only one passenger at a time and all the commercial drivers must not carry more than two passengers at a time.
“The DG of the Traffic Regulatory Agency warned that failure to comply with the new directive which is put in place to checkmate the spread of the current global dreaded scourge called Coronavirus, code named, COVID-19, will attract severe consequences leading to the impoundment of the driver’s vehicle”.
But some of the commercial drivers who spoke with newsmen decried the extortion and action from the Government – even though they agreed to carry less number of persons as directed. “We were offered a circular about buying hand sanitizers for our vehicles. Is it supposed to be so? Government that is supposed to be giving free sanitizers is now selling for a fee? Who knows how much they will be selling those sanitizers?
“They just want to use every single opportunity to extort money from us. When will all this come to an end?” a taxi driver who gave his name as Bassey stated.
