Following the death of more than 65 persons from stampedes during the distribution of palliatives in two states of Oyo, Anambra and in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city in less than one week, some state governments have announce the implementation of strict precautionary measures to check further occurrence.
In the last week alone, 35 children died in stampedes in Ibadan in Oyo State, while more than 20 persons died in Okija in Anambra State and in Abuja more than 10 deaths were recorded during the distribution of food items.
According to local media reports, the rush to secure free food items from some charity organisations, churches some of the participants were trampled upon, resulting in deaths and fatalities.
And to check further occurrences, the Lagos State Government has directed individuals and groups to register with state safety agencies when planning for events expected to host more than 250 attendees, both during and after the Christmas season.
The government warned that failure to comply with the directive would result in sanctions for the event organisers.
At a media briefing on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, alongside heads of state safety commissions, stressed the importance of adequate crowd control measures in preventing tragedies.
“The Lagos State Government is seriously concerned about the stampede incidents in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja. Any individual, group, or organisation planning to distribute items or host large gatherings must obtain clearance from the state government and register with the safety commissions,” Omotosho stated.
He added that event organisers could also request ambulances from the state government at a reasonable fee.
In the same vein, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, called for more structured and safer approach to distributing relief materials to prevent stampedes and loss of lives.
Prof. Soludo, in a statement on Sunday signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, expressed grief on the tragic loss of lives and sympathised with families of those who lost their loved ones.
“The event was with the noble intention of sharing relief materials to the less privileged during this festive season. However, the resulting tragedy underscores the urgent need for a more structured and safer approach to distributing such assistance to prevent stampede and loss of lives,” he said.
He urged individuals and groups engaged in charitable activities to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of beneficiaries.
“It is strongly advised that future distributions of relief materials be conducted in a more organised and decentralised manner, with adequate crowd control measures in place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had cancelled all official engagements in Lagos in honour of the victims of the stampede and ordered investigations into the calamities.
And Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has described the incidents as deeply saddening and expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and others affected.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents,” Idris said in a statement issued by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim on Sunday.
The minister reiterated that the administration’s reforms aim to promote sustainable economic growth and improve the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable, without causing additional distress.
He emphasised the need for organizers of such activities to prioritise safety measures to prevent similar occurrences and warned against politicizing the incidents.
GIK/APA