Minister Devastated Over Deaths At Food Distribution Events In Abuja, Anambra

A wave of sadness has swept through Nigeria following two separate stampedes at food distribution events in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.

The incidents, which occurred during the holiday season, resulted in several deaths and injuries, prompting a strong response from the Minister of Women Affairs.

Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed her deep sadness over the tragic losses, issuing a statement on Saturday condemning the poor crowd management that resulted in the avoidable deaths.

While applauding the charitable efforts of the private institutions that organised the food distributions, the Minister emphasised the critical need for improved safety measures.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State today,” the statement read.

“As a mother, I understand the anguish of losing someone in such horrific circumstances.”

The Minister sent her condolences to the victims’ families, as well as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Soludo.

She urged thorough investigations into both incidents to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised the importance of pre-event crowd assessment, advising organisers to estimate the number of expected attendees and plan accordingly.

She also recommended selecting large, open venues with few obstacles and scheduling distributions during less congested times.

“By implementing these measures,” the statement continued, “the risk of stampedes during food distribution will be reduced.”

The Minister’s statement emphasised the urgent need for improved safety protocols at large-scale charitable events.

The security agencies have been asked to investigate the incidents and determine the exact circumstances that caused the stampedes.

As Nigeria mourns the loss of life, the focus shifts to putting measures in place to prevent such avoidable tragedies from happening again.