Transport agencies ignore Minister’s call, collect 100F toilet fee
Some Interurban Transport Agencies in Yaounde, specifically around the Biyem-Assi neighborhood continue to collect FCFA 100 as payment for toilet usage. This is in total defiance of the Minister’s ban.
An unequal treatment was noticed at the toilet entrance where uniform men were given free access, while ordinary passengers were denied access if they did not have 100frs to pay.
At thew Vatican Express in Yaounde, CNA noticed that the payment was still ongoing.
It must be recalled that on 29 July 2020, Transport Minister, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe in a press release, prohibited travel agencies from charging passengers an extra cost for toilet services.
While reiterating order No. 039/MTPS/IMT which lays down the “general measures of hygiene and safety in the workplace, as well as the terms of reference relating to the regulation of the interurban road passenger transport activity, the issuance of the authorization to exercise the profession of Manager of interurban road passenger transport terminals is subject to a number of requirements among which, the construction of toilets for free use by customers and staff of the company”.
According to Minister Bibehe, “Nothing authorizes terminal managers to set up “paid public toilets within interurban travel agencies”, as such prerogatives fall within the competence of local councils.
This action of the Minister came as a result of the killing of a Gendarmerie element in 2020 at a popular travel agency in Douala, for not paying 100 after using the toilet.
