THE Federal Government has cautioned against politicizing the tragic stampedes that claimed multiple lives during food distribution exercises in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija, asserting that the incidents were not connected to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
In a statement issued on Sunday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described attempts to link the incidents to the administration’s policies as “unfounded and disingenuous.”
“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, before the current administration,” Idris said. “Attributing these tragedies to the President’s reforms is baseless and misleading.”
The minister reiterated that Tinubu’s economic reforms aimed to position the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth while prioritising the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
He emphasised that the reforms are intended to uplift Nigerians without causing distress.
Expressing the administration’s deep sorrow over the tragic incidents, the government spokesman extended condolences to the families of the victims and called for better safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
He said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents,” he said, emphasizing the need for proper crowd management in charity events, especially during the festive season.
While acknowledging the good intentions behind the food distribution exercises, the minister strongly advised organizers to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure effective crowd control and security.
He stressed that proactive measures, such as working with the police, are essential to avoid further tragedies during charitable activities.
He also emphasised that the collaboration with the police and National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) is crucial in safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.
“It is crucial to safeguard lives and ensure that efforts to support the vulnerable do not result in unintended harm,” Idris said.
Idris called for collective responsibility from citizens, urging them to ensure that the holiday season is marked by peace, goodwill, and safety.
“The Yuletide should be a time of joy and celebration, not marred by preventable tragedies,” he said.
He also appealed to organisers of similar events to prioritize safety and adhere to regulations to prevent further loss of life.
PDP blames Tinubu for tragic food stampedes, alleges APC pushing Nigerians to death
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the tragic food stampedes in parts of the country as “an ugly testament of the alarming level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival currently plaguing our nation.”
The assertion was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition party.
The party lamented the stampede at private events in Oyo and Anambra States as well as the FCT, Abuja which claimed the lives of many vulnerable citizens including children “in their desperate struggle for food as a result of the pervasive hunger in the land occasioned by the anti-people policies of the APC administration.”
The PDP stated that it was devastated that the APC-led administration has wrecked the once thriving economy and pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into abject poverty and hunger with many citizens, not being able to afford their daily meals, now resorting to suicide and desperate measures including slavery mission abroad and fighting for crumbs for survival.
The statement added: “It is heartbreaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to agonizing life where they die struggling for food.
“This also explains why the APC administration has rejected all advice and suggestions by the PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians to review the hasty implementation of the suffocating policies of abrupt increase in the price of petroleum products and the floating of the Naira, despite the crippling consequences on the productive sector and life-discounting effect on the citizenry.”
It’s a reflection of severe hunger in the land —Obi
In a tweet on Sunday, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, wrote: “While still in mourning mood over the precious lives lost due to tragic incidents stemming from the distribution of palliatives, I am deeply pained that such occurrences are a reflection of the severe hunger and poverty currently ravaging our nation. My heartfelt condolences go to the affected families, communities, and states.
The recent arrest of the organizers of a palliative distribution program in Oyo state, spearheaded by the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has come to my attention. I want to make a heartfelt appeal to the government to reconsider this action. Acts of goodwill, even when they unintentionally result in unfortunate outcomes, should not be criminalized. This particular initiative was intended to alleviate suffering and bring relief to the people.
“If accountability is to be sought, it should begin with the leaders and policymakers whose cumulative actions—or inactions—have inflicted the widespread hardship and suffering we see today. It is the systemic failure of governance, not the efforts of well-meaning individuals, that should be scrutinised.
“As a nation, we must collectively retrace our steps and prioritize policies and actions that uplift the lives of our people. Let us redirect our focus toward creating a system where no citizen is left desperate for necessities. In doing so, we can begin to rebuild trust and ensure that tragedies like these are not repeated.”
Omokri calls out Obi
A former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, has urged the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, not to politicise the recent fatal stampedes in some parts of the country.
Obi, in a tweet on his X handle last week, condemned the scores of children’s deaths in Ibadan during the pre-Xmas fair as a reflection of the nation’s systemic failure.
“The devastating news of innocent children reportedly trampled to death during a Christmas celebration in Ibadan is both heart-wrenching and a stark reflection of the systemic failures that plague our nation today,” he had said.
He said the tragedy called for deep reflection and decisive actions by leaders to prioritise policies that address poverty, inequality, and equitable resource access while ensuring the highest safety standards for public events, especially those involving children.
However, Omokri, who reacted on his X handle said, “One would have expected Mr Peter Obi to have condoled with the families and moved on,” he said.
The former presidential aide said the Labour Party’s erstwhile flagbearer’s attempt to blame the federal government for the stampede was hypocritical because the occurrence was a global phenomenon, pointing out that it occurred recently in the US, South Korea, Israel and multiple European countries.
Besides, he recalled that under Obi’s watch as governor of Anambra State, a similar event happened on November 3, 2013, during which 28 persons died. “Funny enough, Peter Obi himself was at the scene of the incident,” Omokri stated.
He said, “It is hypocritical for a man under whom these events occurred to now use the Ibadan tragedy to stigmatise the Tinubu administration. Genuine opposition politics involves providing alternative solutions to issues.”
Omokri queried the moral basis of Obi’s persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging out that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate underperformed during his stint as the governor of Anambra State.
He said, “This is sad coming from a man under whom, as Governor of Anambra State, poverty almost doubled, as revealed by his immediate successor, Mr Willie Obiano, and the incumbent Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
“Before Peter Obi took over as Governor of Anambra, poverty in that state was 41.4%. However, under Mr. Obi, it grew to 53.7%, partly because Peter Obi refused to use the state’s allocations to build infrastructure, preferring to deposit them in the bank,” he said.
Reacting to these tragedies, the former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with the victims. He called on state governments to learn lessons from the frequent events and implement better crowd control mechanisms.
Ondo govt issues fresh directives on crowd control, calls for strict adherence
As part of efforts to ensure public safety and guide against occurrence of stampede during philanthropic gestures by individuals and organisations in the state, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has issued series of directives outlining improved crowd control measures.
The governor’s directive which was contained in a statement signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, said clearance must be sought from security agencies and other relevant authorities while thorough risk assessments must also be conducted before any planned gatherings.
According to the statement, some factors are to be put into consideration before such gathering could be approved, saying such factors must include, expected attendance, location, and potential for unrest, while the venue must be well-equipped to ensure that such events do not turn tragic.
Falana heads to court as 105 killed in palliative stampede in 32 months.
Data supplied by human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana has shown Nigeria recording 105 deaths between March 2022 and December 2024 in stampede over free food and free money.
The Senior Advocate on Sunday also disclosed his readiness to rally other lawyers to sue on behalf of the survivours and family members of those lost to the national tragedies.
Within 72 hours last week, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abuja the Federal Capital and Anambra, South Eastern part of the country, 57 deaths were officially listed due to stampede in the course of distributing free food and money.
According to Falana “Between March 2022 and December 2024, no fewer than 105 Nigerian citizens, including children, were killed in stampede over distribution of rice and sharing of N5,000 stipend.
Buhari condoles with Tinubu over food stampede deaths
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his grief and extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu over the series tragic stampedes in Oyo State, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Anambra in which several lives were lost.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Sunday, the former President expressed sympathy to Governors Seyi Makinde, Oyo State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT and appealed to the leaders to pass on his words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims and wishes of a speedy recovery to those injured in the stampedes.
Buhari also sympathised with the Catholic community which is also affected.
Abiodun expresses condolences to Makinde, Soludo, Wike
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the governments and people of Oyo, Anambra and FCT, over the tragic loss of life resulting from recent stampedes at food palliative distribution venues in the affected areas.
In his messages of condolence to Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Charles Soludo of Anambra and Nyesom Wike in the FCT, Prince Abiodun lamented that the deaths of these innocent individuals are particularly heartbreaking, as it stemmed from their pursuit of basic needs of survival.
Acknowledging the prevailing economic challenges faced by citizens, the SGF Chairman emphasised that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, together with other levels of government continue to strive towards improving the living conditions of the citizenry.
He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to exercise restraint and adhere to security protocols during palliative distribution events to prevent any further tragedies.
CAN commiserates with Catholic Church, victims’ families
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has sent their condolences to the Catholic Church and the families of victims who lost their lives during a stampede that occurred while palliatives were being shared on Saturday as Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement, said the tragedy is not just statistics, rather it represents real families who are hurting.
Safeguarding children in crowded gatherings not negotiable —PAN
The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has informed the Federal Government that protecting Nigerian children in packed crowds is a non-negotiable issue in light of deaths that have occurred during children’s funfairs and palliative distribution in the country.
PAN’s President, Dr Ekanem Ekure, in a release jointly signed with Dr Chika Duru, the association’s Secretary, said the Ibadan tragedy reminded everyone of the risks that children face in crowded gatherings and the importance of taking proactive steps to protect them.
According to her, the details of the happenstances that led to the incident, without prejudice to the likely findings of the ordered investigations, draw attention to the preventable nature of the Ibadan tragedy.
She said that the Child Rights Act prescribes that children must be protected against harm, and therefore, it is the joint responsibility of policymakers and event organisers to make the venue of funfairs safe for children and ready for emergencies. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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