Fight against Covid-19 : Overload continues among carriers

More than a year after its appearance, the pandemic linked to the Covid-19 coronavirus continues to wreak havoc around the world. If in Benin the situation is almost under control thanks to government measures, it should still be noted that some citizens deliberately choose to no longer respect barrier gestures, particularly public transport passengers..

 According to the latest figures published by the Ministry of Health, Benin counts for the moment 8 199 cas dont 8 000 are cured and 104 death. Figures on the rise in recent days, a situation undoubtedly due to non-compliance with preventive measures, particularly within public transport.

Tokpâ-Tokpâ (Mini-Bus), City taxis, clandos and many other means of public transport are in this period when the pandemic is experiencing new variants of the means of strong spread of the coronavirus. Just after the reduction of certain measures by the Beninese state, several carriers have taken the decision themselves not to respect the number of passengers in vehicles. To see them in circulation one might believe oneself in a period before Covid-19 where everything was permitted, already that they allowed themselves certain things. No respect for social distancing between passengers who find themselves crowded together and worse without a nose mask. This situation worries many local residents who think that there is a lack of responsibility among carriers and a lack of care among the people responsible for controlling these vehicles.. “What we see today in public transport worries us all. The Tokpâ-Tokpâ especially do not respect any health measures while the pandemic is increasingly resurfacing. This unfortunately happens in view of the police who are often on the arteries of our cities” says Mathieu B with desolation. a user adding “The government so far is doing its best to deal with the problem but it’s a shame that we population, we do not accompany him in this common struggle”.

For city and clandestine taxis, the number of passengers was set at three in addition to the driver for five-seater vehicles but the latter can hold seven people on board the vehicle. A fact that a carrier justifies “If we returned to old habits, this is because we have noticed that the situation is no longer as critical and that given our family needs we can increase the number of passengers. Because in the past with the passenger reduction measure and despite the increase in fares, We can’t make ends meet”. As for not wearing masks, the person concerned is categorical “In my vehicle, I require passengers to wear a nose mask at least,” he reassures. Among mini-Bus drivers, the observation is more sickening. Human lives are exposed to evil every day without qualms. According to the park managers of the Dantokpâ market, the main bus station in the city of Cotonou, “Awareness messages are being made. We are taking measures so that the situation returns to normal and our transport colleagues can once again respect the measures taken by the authorities to deal with this disease”.

Firmin KASSAGA