Drivers and commuters in Lagos State are in for a new experience as officials of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspectorate Services, VIS, will from next week continue its mass sensitisation and enforcement of the use of face masks and social distancing as part of efforts to curb the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus.

This was disclosed Saturday by the Director of the VIS Lagos, Engr. Akin George Fashola during a chat with journalists.

According to Fashola, this is to ensure that the state is not forced into another lock down.

The exercise suffered a setback aftermath of the endsars protest in the state. For the country and Lagos State in particular to battle the deadly Covid-19 virus to a halt, there is a need for drivers and commuters to abide by all safety measures.

Engr. Fashola said “Covid-19 is real and it is deadly. Nobody should joke with it or say it is not real. The disease does not maim but kills so fast. That’s the reason our people must use facemasks and obey all the safety guidelines like maintaining social distance, washing of hands regularly and going to hospitals when they are sick.

“To defeat this virus, it is better and less costly to obey all the safety guidelines than to lockdown the country. We do not want Lagos State to be lockdown for a second time, therefore we will begin our second phase of mass enforcement and sensitisation of drivers especially commercial drivers and commuters to ensure the use of facemasks, observe social distance in their vehicles and other safety rules”.

While addressing the misconception and promoting of non-adherence to safety measures, Engr.Fashola said “some people feel government is punishing them when they are told to wear facemasks and observe social distancing but what will government gain from that? People say Covid-19 is not an African disease but this second wave is even deadlier and it’s killing faster. When others say that Covid-19 is not their portion, then whose portion is it? It is wise to abide by all the safety rules so that the disease will not be their portion.

“They should take it seriously by observing all the safety rules which should be a personal responsibility to stay alive. Commercial drivers should not put gain or profit above health safety by conveying people in overcrowded vehicles. It is only those alive that can eat so it is wise to adjust and comply with the safety measures and live long.

“Wear your facemasks, and observe all the safety rules so government will not be forced to lock down the state a second time. As an agency we do not want the state to be lock down therefore we will continue to work with other stakeholders to enforce government directives aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19,” Engr. Fashola concluded.
ngr akin George Fashola, the Director Vis Lagos.