NEMA Calls For ‘Proper Crowd Management’ During Charity Events 

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called for better crowd management during charity events to avert stampedes and deaths.

At least ten persons were dead and others injured at a charity event in Abuja. A similar incident happened in Anambra, leading to several deaths and injuries.

About thirty-five persons, mainly children, also died from a stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State earlier in the week.

Alarmed by the spate of stampedes during public events, NEMA’s Director-General Zubaida Umar says proper crowd management during charity events could have prevented such incidents.

A statement by the agency which was posted on its X handle said Umar “expressed concerns that such tragic outcomes undermine the goodwill behind charity events, turning acts of kindness into sources of grief due to poor planning and crowd control”.

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Ten persons have been confirmed dead and several others were wounded when a stampede happened during a food distribution campaign to the needy and vulnerable in Abuja.

Channels TV’s Sodiq Adelakun was at the venue and captured these shots: pic.twitter.com/lf6xC0dEnX

— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 21, 2024

The NEMA DG sympathised with the families and deceased and others wounded in the stampedes.

But the agency’s statement said the DG “urged organizers of similar events to engage professionals and seek the support of security agencies to manage crowds effectively. She emphasized the importance of ensuring safety during such activities to prevent recurring tragedies”.

NEMA said, “all zonal territorial and operations offices of the agency have been activated to respond to emergencies and provide support to first responders in the area of traffic management due to the usual increase of traffic during the Yuletide and end-of-the-year festivities”.

Tinubu Mourns

Tinubu Cancels Official Events, Mourns Victims Of ‘Avoidable’ Stampedeshttps://t.co/EMvTpZeIYl pic.twitter.com/Zuhyd3MydN

— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 21, 2024

President Bola Tinubu had earlier cancelled his official events for the day, offering his condolences to the victims.

But he also called on the authorities to crack down on “operational lapses” by those organising such activities.

A statement from the president’s spokesman said Tinubu had “cancelled all his official events in Lagos today…, in honour of the stampede victims.”

”In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,” President Tinubu said.