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Stampede: Food Banks, Hunger Exist Everywhere, Even In West, Says Tinubu
To avoid such incidents, those who don’t have enough to give shouldn’t attempt to distribute or publicise it without adequate preparation,
Abuja, Nigeria– President Bola Tinubu on Monday expressed concern over the stampedes that occurred during palliative distribution events in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, attributing the incidents to poor coordination by the organizers.
Speaking on the matter, Tinubu stated that philanthropists and organizations should refrain from organising or publicising aid events if they lack sufficient resources or proper planning.
“To avoid such incidents, those who don’t have enough to give shouldn’t attempt to distribute or publicise it without adequate preparation,” the president stated.
Citing his personal experience, Tinubu noted that for over 20 years, he has successfully distributed palliatives to the public at his Bourdillon residence without any mishaps.
He attributed this to meticulous organisation and planning.
He further pointed out that food insecurity exists worldwide, even in developed nations like the United States and the United Kingdom, but systems such as food banks and warehouses ensure orderliness. “In America and Britain, they have food banks and warehouses. They are organized,” Tinubu said.
The president’s remarks come amid growing concerns about the safety of palliative distribution in the wake of recent stampede incidents that have resulted in casualties.
Tinubu called for better systems to ensure the safety and dignity of beneficiaries in future initiatives.
According to Tinubu, “It is very sad that people are not behaving in a disciplined way. We just have to be more disciplined in our society. My condolences to those who have lost a family member. It is good to give. I have been distributing food, commodities, including envelopes and other items, for the last 10 to 15 years.
“I’ve never experienced this kind of incident because we are usually organized and disciplined.
“If you know you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to publicize it. That is the question.
He said, “Every society, even in America, has food banks and hungry people. In Britain, they have food banks and warehouses. They are organized.
“They take time to line up and take turns. Unfortunately, in our society, we don’t even want to stand in a queue before rushing in. It’s very sad that we continue to learn from our mistakes.
“To me, I see this as a very grave error on the part of the organizers. But things are improving. It doesn’t diminish our happiness for this season. We shouldn’t just brush it aside,” he said.
