Tinubu Criticizes Organizers For Stampedes That Killed Over 60 People During Palliative Distributions

President Bola Tinubu has criticized the organizers of the events for the fatal stampedes during palliative distribution in three Nigerian cities.

In the past week, stampedes occurred in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja, where residents scrambled to collect groceries shared by the organizers. Over 60 people, including children, lost their lives in these incidents.

During his first Presidential Media Chat on Monday, the president called these incidents a "very grave error" by the organizers.

"To me, I see this as a very grave error on the part of the organizers. But things are improving, it doesn't kill our happiness for this season. It shouldn't be. We should just get on with it," he said, Premium Times reported.

He added, "Well, are we looking at it from the organizers' 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? And it is very sad that people are not well organized. We just have to be more disciplined in our society."

Tinubu expressed his condolences to those who lost family members, adding that he had been distributing food and commodities for the past 25 years without ever experiencing such an incident, thanks to proper organization and discipline.

The president pointed out that even in countries like the United States and Britain, food banks exist to help hungry people, and they were well-organized.

He expressed regret over the situation in Nigeria, comparing it to bus stops where people ignore queues to rush onto vehicles. He acknowledged the issue as unfortunate, but emphasized that the country would continue learning from its mistakes.

On Dec. 19, 35 people, mostly children, were killed in a stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, Oyo State. On Dec. 22, 22 people died in Okija, Anambra State, during a stampede while receiving bags of rice donated by entrepreneur Ernest Obiejesi, known as Obijackson.

The same day, another 10 people died, and several others were injured in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja's Maitama District.