President Bola Tinubu has condemned the recent stampedes that led to the deaths of over 60 people, including children, in Ibadan, Anambra, and Abuja. The tragedies occurred during poorly managed palliative distribution events aimed at providing groceries to less privileged residents.
Speaking during his first Presidential Media Chat on Monday, Tinubu described the incidents as a “very grave error” on the part of the organisers, emphasizing the urgent need for better planning and crowd control in such exercises. He noted that while the intention to give to the needy is commendable, a lack of proper organisation undermines the goodwill and can result in disastrous outcomes.
The stampedes claimed lives in three major locations within a week. In Ibadan, Oyo State, 35 people, mostly children, died during a carnival last Thursday. On Saturday, 22 individuals lost their lives in Okija, Anambra State, while attempting to receive bags of rice donated by entrepreneur Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson. In Abuja, 10 people died, and many others were injured during a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama District.
Reflecting on the incidents, Tinubu criticized the societal tendency toward disorganisation, linking it to broader issues of discipline in Nigeria. “Well, are we looking at it from the organisers’ point of view? Or are you looking at it from the goodwill gesture of the people trying to give out whatever they have access to? It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be more disciplined in our society,” he said.
Tinubu contrasted the chaotic events with his personal experience of giving out food and cash to indigent Nigerians at his residence on Bourdillon Street in Lagos for over 25 years. He attributed his success in avoiding similar incidents to being “organised, cultured, and disciplined.” He further advised that anyone unable to manage large-scale distribution effectively should refrain from doing so or avoid publicising it altogether.
While acknowledging that hunger and poverty exist in every society, the president drew comparisons with food bank operations in developed countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where systems are structured and orderly. He also connected the stampedes to a broader reflection of societal habits, likening the disarray to the behavior seen at bus stops where passengers defy queues to board vehicles.
Despite his criticisms, Tinubu expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the importance of learning from these mistakes to prevent future occurrences. “My condolences to those who lost a family member, but it is good to give. If you know you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to even give or publicise it,” he added.
Sources
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/763292-updated-tinubu-blames-organisers-for-fatal-stampedes-in-ibadan-anambra-abuja
- https://tribuneonlineng.com/organisers-responsible-for-fatal-stampedes-in-ibadan-anambra-abuja-tinubu/amp/html
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