Buea : Measure Leaves Taxi Drivers Groaning

Township taxis in Buea are since March 26, 2020, carrying not more than three passengers to whatever destinations. The measure is prescribed by South West Regional Delegation for Transport. The goal is to achieve the social distance in taxis in the face of Corona Virus. Of the 700 taxis in Buea, each is expected to ferry three passengers at a go, one in front and two behind. Cameroon Tribune observed on March 28, 2020 that taxi drivers were implementing the measure though in lamentations. Ekote Esongami recalled that the measure is good because passengers in his taxi don’t have bodily contacts with others. He called on his colleagues to respect the prescription as it is for the good of all.
But Ashu Onobiono said that the government recommendation to stay home has caused passengers to be fewer in the streets. That by 6 pm the streets are completely empty. It has even become worse off with the three-passengers-measure. “I am not happy as I carry only three passengers. Passengers too don’t even want to pay the normal laydown tariff which is FCFA 250 in the day and FCFA 350 in the night per drop,” he explained bitterly. He barely struggled to work FCFA 5,000 as balance contrasting FCFA 8,000 during the pre-advent of COVID-19. Ndeh Hubert, another taxi driver said that they might likely shift the load on passengers in order to succeed. Presently, he tasked passengers FCFA 300 per drop before he bagged home FCFA 6,000 as balance. Another taxi driver said he was trying to finish the fuel he had consumed before parking his taxi for good until the situation returns to normal. That since the measure came into force, he had worked not more than FCFA 4,000 as balance.
Samuel Molombe Ngombi, President of Buea Township Taxi ...