Plateau buses make face masks compulsory to curb diphtheria spread
September 7, 2026 11:06 pm
Passengers using TinCity Metro buses in Plateau State will be required to wear face masks from Tuesday as part of measures to curb the spread of diphtheria in the state.
The directive was announced by the management of Plateau Express Services Group in a statement issued on Monday.
“The Management of Plateau Express Services Group has directed the enforcement of a “No Face Mask, No Entry” policy on all TinCity Metro buses, effective Tuesday, 8th September 2026, until further notice,” the statement read.
TinCity Metro is Plateau State’s intra-city mass transit bus service, serving commuters within the Jos metropolis.
To ease the start of the enforcement, the management said a limited number of face masks would be provided at designated boarding points.
It, however, advised commuters to come with their own masks, noting that the available supplies might not be sufficient for everyone.
Management urged passengers to comply with the directive and cooperate with TinCity Metro personnel, stressing that containing public health outbreaks required collective responsibility.
“Management appreciates the understanding and cooperation of commuters as we work together to ensure a safer public transport environment,” the statement read.
The face-mask requirement comes as the Plateau State Government intensifies measures to contain diphtheria, a bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact.
The Plateau Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, said on Friday that the state recorded 148 suspected cases, with 23 deaths reported in the preceding two weeks.
Eight patients were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while five others were at the Plateau Specialist Hospital.
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