By Samuel Omotere
The Lagos State Government has directed all courier and delivery service providers operating in the state to ensure their riders wear reflective jackets and visibility tapes during evening and nighttime hours.
The directive was announced by the Lagos Ministry of Transportation, in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Bolanle Ogunlola, and released on Sunday.
Ogunlola stated it is part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce the risks of accidents involving dispatch riders.
“All riders operating between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am are instructed to wear reflective jackets, while all delivery motorcycles and bicycles must be fitted with reflective tapes or markers to ensure clear visibility on the road.
“All delivery companies are to sensitise their riders and ensure strict compliance to avoid sanctions from designated enforcement agencies, including the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS).”
In compliance with the directive, Glovo Nigeria pledged to provide 3,000 reflective vests free of charge to its couriers within the next month.
“The company is already in the process of providing 3,000 reflective vests free of charge to couriers on its platform within the next month while encouraging other delivery service providers within the state to follow suit,” the firm’s General Manager, Lamide Akinola, stated in a letter.
The ministry welcomed Glovo’s move, noting it looked forward to more collaboration with delivery companies to build a safer and more responsible system in the state.
Nigerian logistics business sector is estimated to be worth billions of dollars especially due to the rise of e-commerce.
However, the dispatch riders at the bottom of the chain, who deliver goods to end users daily make life-threatening decisions as they set out for work mainly due to the lack of important safety kits.
