Kunle Adelabu
The manager of the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, Mr Zack Zakari Dezina, has stated that passengers using their facilities on daily basis have reduced from more than 4000 to 1000 passengers since the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.
While speaking with THE IMPACT, the ferry manager stated that the reduction was due to government’s directive shutting down schools and tertiary institutions across the state and the latest directive by the Governor that Civil Servants from level 1 to 12 should stay back at home for 14 days to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
“Volume of our traffic has reduced mainly due to government’s directive shutting down schools and asking civil servants from level 1 to 12 to work from home.
“We used to have more than 4000 passengers plying our route daily but now we struggle to have 1000 plus in passengers”, he lamented.
Stating how they have been ensuring that government regulations are adhered to by their passengers and prevention of the disease, he stated that, “The management of the ferry is ensuring that a social distance directive in the sitting arrangement of passengers waiting to board is adhered to.
“We also provided sanitizer which is applied on the passengers when about to board ferry.
“We also enjoin our passengers on arriving our premises to wash their hands and after issuing them with jackets, we usually apply sanitizer on them.”
He stated that their small boat is conveying 20 passengers while the big ferry is carrying 56 passengers.
While reacting to some news media report that they have shut down their operations, Mr Dezina stated that they actually contemplated that but had to review it.
“We contemplated shutting down but we were advised against it. We have been doing everything possible to sensitise our passengers and make necessary tools available for our staff dealing with them”, he told THE IMPACT.
