Commercial drivers in Kwara on Wednesday continued to violate government order and experts advice on the number of passengers to carry to maintain social distance.
Our correspondent who went round the capital city of Ilorin reports that the commercial drivers did not only violate the order, they have increased transport fare.
Daybreak reports that Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier announced the ease of lockdown with provision for taxis to operate everyday with maximum of three passengers and tricycles to carry maximum of two passengers in order to maintain physical distancing.
But most taxi drivers and tricycle riders are violating the order and advice on the number of passengers to carry as they desperately overload passengers on daily basis.
Some Ilorin residents, who spoke with Our Correspondent, expressed their worry over the drivers’ nonchalant attitude towards observing physical distancing and the hike in price of transport fare within the state.
A resident, Mr Isiaka Alade, said Ilorin drivers were not cooperating with the government to fight coronavirus as they always carry excess passengers without minding the dangers.
“Drivers are violating number of passengers order. They only think about the money. You see most of them carrying five passengers in a taxi and going through illegal route to avoid security check,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Ebunola Aina, said commercial drivers were gradually overcharging their passengers.
“The drivers are now speaking in one voice by stylishly increasing transport fare. Since the ease of the lockdown, they now charge N100 per drop that used to be N50.
“I paid N100 from Ita-Alamu to Post Office which is always N50 before now. Drivers are making life difficult for us in Kwara. Government must do something on time to check their excesses,” she said.
On his part, Mr Bolaji Jimoh said drivers were very exploitative as they were desperate to make up for the time they spent at home due to the lockdown.
“They want to make money on time to cover up for the many days they have stay at home during the lockdown order.
“They never mind the consequence of over loading at this coronavirus season. They just want money,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Comfort Alabi said commercial drivers would carelessly spread coronavirus in the state, if government failed to tackle them.
“Government must act fast. Commercial drivers are exposing us to risk of contracting coronavirus.
“They avoid checkpoints with full load in their taxi and tricycles. When the passengers talk, they insult them and threaten to drop you by the road side.
“Nobody is safe again. The desperate commercial drivers are the enemy of the State. Police must be strict and safe us from them,” she said.
However, a taxi driver, Mr Femi Olakanmi said to stick to three passengers does not make economic sense as he would not break even at the end of the day.
“Three passengers are like driving an empty car. It can’t work. It is a shortage for us,” he said.
A tricycle rider, Mr Suleiman Jamiu said he preferred to carry overload of five passengers and avoid security men than to carry two passengers without making profit.
“I will rather carry overload and go through a long route to avoid police officers than to carry just two passengers.
“It is a shortage for me to carry just two passengers per trip,” he said.
