Passengers using TinCity Metro buses in Plateau State will be required to wear face masks from Tuesday as authorities intensify efforts to contain a diphtheria outbreak that has killed at least 23 people.

The management of Plateau Express Services Group, which operates the state-owned mass transit service, announced a “no face mask, no entry” policy in a statement issued on Monday.

The directive takes effect on Tuesday, 8 September, and will remain in force until further notice.

“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 said.

TinCity Metro buses operate across the Jos metropolis and neighbouring local government areas, including Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Bassa, providing daily transportation for residents within and around the state capital.

The management said a limited number of face masks would be provided at designated boarding points to ease the implementation of the directive.

However, it advised commuters to bring their own masks, warning that available supplies might not be sufficient for everyone.

The company also urged passengers to comply with the directive and cooperate with its personnel when boarding the buses.

“Management appreciates the understanding and cooperation of commuters as we work together to ensure a safer public transport environment,” it said.

The directive comes amid heightened concern over the spread of diphtheria in Plateau State, with health authorities reporting a rising number of suspected cases and deaths.

The state Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, said on Friday that 148 suspected cases had been recorded, with 23 deaths reported in the preceding two weeks.

READ ALSO: Plateau shuts schools over suspected diphtheria outbreak

Eight patients were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while five others were being treated at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Mr Baamlong said.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected people, making crowded public spaces a potential avenue for transmission.

The Plateau State Government has already introduced other measures to contain the outbreak, including the temporary closure of public and private primary and secondary schools across the state.

The face-mask requirement on TinCity Metro buses extends the containment measures to public transportation, where thousands of residents travel daily between Jos and neighbouring communities.

President of the Nigeria Netball Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Aluko, has identified capacity building as a critical pillar in the federation’s long-term plan to reposition netball and build a stronger technical base for the sport in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Netball Development: Aluko Says Coaching, Officiating Programme Key to Nigeria’s Five-Year Growth Plan

Aluko’s position comes as the federation continues efforts to strengthen its coaching and officiating structures, with recent development programmes targeting coaches and umpires as part of a broader strategy to create a more competent workforce around the sport.

For the NNF president, developing players alone is not enough. A sustainable netball programme must also produce properly trained coaches, technically sound officials and administrators capable of taking the sport to the next level.

The federation has therefore placed considerable emphasis on training and professional development, an approach Aluko believes will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s chances of competing successfully at international level.

“Capacity building remains one of the major pillars of our five-year strategic development plan. We need to continuously invest in our coaches and umpires because the quality of our athletes and competitions depends greatly on the people responsible for developing and officiating them.”

The focus on technical development is coming at an important stage for Nigerian netball, with the federation targeting greater international competitiveness and working towards securing Nigeria’s place among the leading netball nations in Africa.

Aluko has also spoken publicly about the federation’s ambition to secure a historic qualification for the Netball World Cup, describing the objective as achievable if the right structures and preparation are put in place.

Her administration’s approach is centred on building the sport from the foundation rather than relying solely on major competitions.

That means strengthening grassroots participation, improving coaching standards, expanding the pool of qualified officials and creating a pathway through which young Nigerians can progress from schools and grassroots programmes into elite netball.

The renewed attention to capacity development also reflects the growing recognition that technical personnel are central to the long-term growth of Nigerian sport.

Aluko, a former netball player and experienced sports administrator, was appointed President of the Nigeria Netball Federation by the National Sports Commission as part of efforts to strengthen the sport’s administration and development.

With Nigeria seeking to make greater strides internationally, the federation’s challenge will now be to convert its capacity-building initiatives into a consistent pipeline of quality coaches, officials and players.

For Aluko, the message is clear: Nigeria’s netball revival cannot be built overnight, but it can be built deliberately — one coach, one official, one player and one structured programme at a time.

And that long-term approach could prove decisive in determining how far Nigeria can go on the African and global netball stage.