NIGERIA: Stampede: NEMA DG Urges Proper Crowd Management

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has on Saturday called for proper crowd management during charity distributions to prevent stampedes and unnecessary loss of lives as seen in recent events.

She made this call in a statement, about the recent stampedes in Ibadan, Oyo State that took 35 lives, Okija, Anambra State, where at least 12 people lost their lives and Abuja, which have claimed multiple lives and left several others injured over the past four days.

Mrs. Umar expressed deep concern that such tragic events often overshadow the goodwill behind charity initiatives, turning the acts of kindness into sources of sorrow due to improper planning and poor crowd management.

While extending her condolences to the families of the victims, she charged event organizers to engage professional crowd managers and collaborate with security agencies for their events, to ensure safety during large gatherings.

Additionally, she announced that all NEMA Zonal, Territorial, and Operations offices have been activated and are on alert to respond to emergencies. She further stated that the agency is providing support for traffic management, particularly during the heightened movement associated with the festive season.

Mrs. Umar reiterated the agency’s commitment to mitigating such incidents and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians.

In the past few days, the nation has experienced a series of unfortunate incidents associated with poor planning and overcrowding which has resulted in the loss of multiple lives.

On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, a stampede at a children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Ibadan, Oyo State, claimed the lives of 35 children, leaving many others critically injured.

In another tragic event on Saturday, December 21, 2024, 10 individuals also lost their lives during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja, where palliatives were being distributed to people.

Additionally, another stampede incident occurred in Okija, Ihisala local government, during a palliative distribution event organized by philanthropist Obi Jackson. The event took three lives and many others were injured.