Food queue stampedes in Nigeria, resulting in 70 fatalities during December 2024, are attributed to poor organization, says Minister Nentawe Yilwatda. Drawing comparisons to similar incidents in the U.S., the minister emphasizes better planning and urges private organizers to collaborate with the government to prevent future tragedies.
Nentawe Yilwatda, Nigeria's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, has called for improved coordination in food distribution to prevent tragedies like the December 2024 stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, which claimed about 70 lives. Speaking during Channels Television’s year-end review, he highlighted poor organization as the primary cause.
Drawing comparisons with global incidents, Yilwatda noted that food stampedes have also occurred in advanced nations like the U.S. He cited examples such as Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and food distribution programs in Texas, emphasizing that poor planning, not just local circumstances, can lead to such events.
The minister clarified that the Federal Government's organized relief distribution programs have not faced similar issues. He urged private organizations to collaborate with his ministry for proper planning and execution to avoid future disasters.
Critics have linked the tragedies to widespread hunger and skyrocketing food prices. Private organizers of the affected distributions are currently under investigation.
Yilwatda further assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to providing aid to vulnerable populations, reiterating the need for better management and coordination across all levels of food distribution.
