As part of efforts to prevent tragedies at public events, several states have started the implementation of strict precautionary measures
This comes after 67 people, 35 of them children, died in stampedes in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital; Okija, Anambra State and Abuja during a funfair and food distribution ceremonies.
In the rush to secure free food items from the organisers, some of the participants were trampled upon, resulting in fatalities. While 35 children were confirmed dead by the police in Ibadan, 10 people died in Abuja, while 22 were reported killed in Okija.
In a decisive action, the Lagos State Government mandated 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 Yuletide.
The government emphasised that failure to comply with this directive would result in sanctions for 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.
Oyerinde encouraged residents to utilise the state’s toll-free emergency lines, 767 and 112, for prompt assistance during emergencies.
The Director-General of the Lagos Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, announced that the registration process for large gatherings had been streamlined online.
Also, Ondo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, on Sunday introduced new crowd control guidelines for law enforcement, event organisers, and local authorities on Sunday.
Ajulo explained that the guidelines were established under the legal authority of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Ondo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015, and the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
The directives partly read, “Law enforcement must assess risks for all public gatherings, considering factors like expected attendance, venue suitability, and potential security challenges. Also, organisers are required to inform local authorities of their events in advance, providing details such as the venue, expected crowd size, and timing”
“Adequate police and security personnel are to be assigned to events to monitor proceedings and prevent incidents. Others are event organisers and law enforcement must maintain open communication channels for real-time updates. Tools like CCTV cameras and drones may be used to monitor crowds.”
It added, “Events with over 300 participants must have on-site medical teams, ambulances, and emergency response plans. Organisers must ensure attendees have access to drinking water and mobile toilets.
“Events must be held in venues with multiple access points to allow for easy movement.
“Organisers and participants must comply with Nigerian laws, and violations will attract legal consequences.”
Ajulo stated that all stakeholders must work together to ensure compliance with these directives.
“These measures are designed to prevent avoidable tragedies. Our aim is to create a safer and more organised environment for public events in Ondo State.”
Also, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State called for more structured and safer approach to distributing relief materials to prevent stampedes and loss of lives.
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.
“This may include establishing multiple distribution points within the community to reduce overcrowding at a single location.
“Implement a system to prioritise vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities; as well as employing trained personnel to manage crowds.
“Ensure orderly queues, provide assistance to those in need; and conduct public awareness to educate the public on safety protocols during such events,” he said.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has also taken measures to forestall similar incident in the state.
In a statement Sunday issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, on ‘Public Safety Alert’, Otti stated, “Organisers of any event that would require a large crowd of people, should get across to the Abia State Homeland Security or Local Government Authority for the necessary guide and support to ensure safety of attendees.”
The statement added, “The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, wishes to commiserate with the families and loved ones of victims of stampede that happened in Oyo, Abuja and Anambra.
“Following this frightening upsurge in cases of stampede being witnessed in different parts of the country, especially this festive period, as a result of challenges with crowd-control by organisers and participants in different events/programmes, the Governor wishes to call on organisers of all kinds of programmes that would require a reasonable crowd, to make sure they put in place all safety measures to avoid a stampede of any type that may lead to loss of lives.
“The government also wishes to strongly warn against any unethical practices like spraying or throwing of money, or gift items into a crowd of people, given its propensity to lead to a stampede.
“The government shall come down very hard on any person or group that ignores this safety directive.”
Also, the Akwa Ibom State Government said it had taken measures to avoid stampede in the state by decentralising palliatives sharing that attracts large crowd in the state.
The state commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Uyo, said during palliatives sharing the state ensures LG chairmen coordinate the distribution to avoid large crowds in any particular area.
He said, “We have been sharing palliatives this season but we distribute them to the local governments. The LG chairmen distribute to villages. We are sending 20 bags of rice to every village. That way we are dissipating the crowd, so people are not gathering in large numbers. If they are gathering, they are gathering in their villages and it’s just a sizeable number of people who can gather in the village
“So, this is our own logistics plan which has been operationalised for a long time now and it’s working for us.”
Kogi State Government also applied measures similar to that of Akwa Ibom State.
The state information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, said, “The state government commenced the distribution of foodstuffs since last week to enable the citizens to enjoy their Christmas and New Year holidays.
“Catering for the welfare of the citizens is what we have been doing almost on a quarterly basis, so we have developed a template to ensure we do not harm the people we are seeking to help.
“We take the foodstuffs to each Local Government Area and from there, they take it to each ward and finally to each polling unit. By so doing, we deal with a very organised and manageable number of people
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