Agbede Baruwa, National President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), had lamented activities of unscrupulous elements who engage in commercial transportation during the lockdown period.
Baruwa, in a statement, made available to The NEXT EDITION, disowned such people, saying they were not members of the union.
He said that authentic NURTW members, had been adequately briefed and directed to abstain from any form of commercial transport activities until the lockdown period was over.
According to him, government at state and the federal levels had taken the right steps in containing the spread of Coronavirus, adding that the union was in full support of what were being done.
Giving details of steps taken by the union’s leadership, Baruwa said: “Prior to the lockdown, we gave directives to our members to obey the reduction in commuter loading capacity instituted to enforce social distancing.
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“The state branches and units had in collaboration with government agencies carried out sensitisation exercises at our parks, garages and bus stops, to encourage members to adhere strictly with the rules put in place by the government to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We gave out sanitisers, nose masks, and flyers to members during those campaigns.
“We also set up task forces, to enforce member’s compliance, but the taskforce officials found out they have less work to do, because members of the union are in full understanding of what is required of them, so have no difficulty in complying.
“It is disheartening, however, to now find elements masquerading themselves as commercial drivers engaging in passenger loading in this period. I have directed state chairmen, including the FCT chairman, to carry out investigations into areas notorious for these illegal transport activities, to find and fish out those engaged in it. Anyone caught or discovered to be involved so far, will be handed over to the police.”
Baruwa also advised the motoring public to observe social distancing by staying at home and staying safe.
