Minister Ngalle Bibehe wages war against COVID-19 in transport sector

As the number of COVID-19 infected persons and deaths continue to increase each day in Cameroon, the country’s minister of transport has outlined specific measures to be respected in travel agencies, airports and railway stations by passengers and workers aimed at limiting contamination.

In a release signed by Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the minister of transport banned all clandestine transport systems in the national territory.

According to the release, this sector based on its outlawed activities cannot respect measures put in place to bar the way against COVID-19.

As concerns government’s recognised travel agencies, airports and railway stations, the ministry of transport calls for “… systematic and daily disinfection of vehicles, aircrafts ,trains and all equipments and infrastructure used”.

On how to handle passengers, the ministry of transport prescribed obligatory wearing of face mask by all, the respect of physical distancing, washing of hands and the use of hydro-alcoholic gels to disinfect their hands.
Government has equally banned overloading of goods and passengers.

At the same time , more than 50 people are not permitted in a particular area.

Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe says anyone without a face mask will not be permitted to use a taxi or any other public transport.

In another release, the transport minister warned that any driver caught overloading is going to have their drivers license confiscated, and the overloaded passenger(s) pulled out of the vehicle.


Though the minister has called on all administrative and security forces to enforce the decisions, some Cameroonians think implementation of some of the measures remain impossible. For instance, some travel agencies complain of high cost of disinfection of their agencies on daily basis as stated by the minister.

Mbatho Ntan.