The state Commissioner for Transport, Dr Christian Madubuko, made this known to newsmen during an inspection tour of the border area with Delta at the Onitsha axis of Niger Bridgehead on Thursday.
Daybreak reports that the state government deployed the use of thermometers for reading temperature of commuters at its border entries with Enugu, Imo, Abia, Delta, Kogi and Rivers States.
Madubuko said it was part of the state government’s multi-sectoral approach aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19.
The commissioner also said that the inter-state commercial buses must provide their passengers’ manifests to ease contact-tracing in the event of any identified case.
“We are trying to see that those coming from other states comply with our directive. We want to check where they are coming from and where they are going in order to ease contact-tracing in the event of any identified case.
“We have our monitoring teams in other areas to ensure that no place is left out in this task,’’ the commissioner said.
While inspecting the manifests, Madubuko urged drivers to as a matter of urgency install sanitisers, hand-washing equipment with water and detergent as well as thermometers.
He further urged commuters with high temperature or suspected case of the virus to report to the Health Ministry or relevant agencies for immediate diagnosis.
Some of the drivers, who spoke with our correspondents commended the initiative of the state government in tackling the global health emergency.
Mr Amechi Aluu, a Driver with Romchi Mass Transit Ltd. hailed the effort of the monitoring team but noted that some of the requirements should be communicated to the management of the company.
Also, Mr Fidelis Ehirinne of the Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) pledged to comply with approved loading and sitting arrangements for social distancing of commuters.
Mr Anyaegbulem Nwulu of Ifeanyi Chukwu Motors said, “the exercise is timely as it will help to forestall the spread of the disease in the state.”
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