Coronavirus: RTEAN has critical role in campaign against pandemic – Jabi

As the dreaded coronavirus pandemic continue to ravage the world with increasing cases in Nigeria,  the National Secretary General of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).  Hon. Abdullahi Muhammed Jabi said,  the Association has critical role to play in campaign against the disease. 

In an interview on Friday,  he said the situation requires collaboration of all stakeholders to frontally tackle the scourge, noting that RTEAN is directly in charge of mass movement of people,  hence,  all preventive measures in the transportation component would be implemented by the association.

The National scribe further posited that government must do all it could to carry the association along if they must win war against the virus. 

According to him,  Abuja is the epicentre where COVID-19 may afflict more people,  saying that “the two major parks in the territory should be a priority of government; and as it were,  the RTEAN  would be ready to collaborate”,  he said.

 
The RTEAN said  government should create enabling environment for Associations, groups and individuals to get involved  adding that palliative must be channelled through the association,  since,  they were already complying with social distancing and the stay at home order.

 
“Our drivers are private income earners and government has asked them to stay at home. It is incumbent for government to provide palliative for them in order to mitigate hardships as a result of the directive.

 
“Commuters are ready to obey instructions and the  RTEAN leadership would further sensitize them, if government involve the union in any way.

 
“We are yet to see Ministry of Health officials,  the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),  or the department of Transportation of FCTA  coming to engage the union,  but  I assure you,  whenever the come,  the Union is ready to listen.”

Hon. Jabi  called on government to make water available at the two major parks by constructing boreholes.

 
He also requested for kits and items for the Union to be distributed among the members and passengers as part of preventive measures against the coronavirus.

 
CAPITAL POST recalls that the former Vice President,  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar called on the  FG to pay stimulus package to Nigerians to cushion the effect of stay at home order, having pledged the sum of N50 million to that effect. 

Also,  in  a statement on Friday by Presidential spokesman,  Femi Adesina, President Buhari applauded Atiku,  Aliko Dangote and few others for making donations towards combating coronavirus in Nigeria.