- Minister Mohammed Idris cautioned against linking recent food stampedes in Nigeria to President Tinubu’s economic reforms, emphasizing the need for crowd management
- Idris extended condolences to families of over 70 victims and urged compliance with police directives for safer charitable events
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has cautioned against associating recent food stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Idris extended condolences to the families of over 70 victims, including about 40 children, who lost their lives in the tragic events.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, had attributed the stampedes to systemic failures amid widespread hardship in the country.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris emphasized the need for proper crowd management during charitable activities, particularly during festive seasons.
He acknowledged the organisers’ good intentions to help vulnerable individuals but stressed the importance of collaboration with authorities.
He urged those planning similar events to comply with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, by working with police formations for effective crowd control.
Additionally, he highlighted the role of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in ensuring safety during such distributions.
The minister appealed to politicians and stakeholders to avoid politicizing the tragedies, stating that the incidents were unrelated to Tinubu’s economic reforms.
“These unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, even before this administration. Linking them to the President’s reforms is baseless and misleading,” Idris said.
He reiterated that the ongoing reforms aim to reposition the economy for sustainable growth and improve the lives of Nigerians, especially the vulnerable, without causing undue hardship.
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