EBOLA PALAVA: NURTW Cautions Its Members Against Over-Loading

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Thursday advised its members against over loading passengers to reduce the spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD).Mr Kefas Dogonyaro, the Public Relations Officer of the union, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Dogonyaro expressed concern at the spread of the EVD and cautioned motorists to refrain from carrying excess passengers or risk contracting the disease.
“There is need for motorists to stick to the normal number of passengers meant for the kind of vehicle they are using.
“We have been drumming it to our members even before the inception of the virus.
“There are security personnel who are on the road to check the excesses of the drivers that pick up passengers by the road side.
“The union also impounds the vehicle of such a driver for some hours depending on the level of the offence and we also have bye-laws that regulate this body,’’ he said.
He said that a taxi was meant to carry five passengers with the driver inclusive, while Toyota Hiace buses were designed to carry 18 passengers.