The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has outlined essential protocols for event organizers to follow during future palliative distributions in the country.
His advice comes in response to recent stampedes and fatalities during such distributions in Abuja, Ibadan, and Anambra last week.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Yilwatda emphasized the importance of proper planning to avoid tragedies. He listed several key protocols, including event registration, police involvement, risk assessments, and vulnerability checks, as critical measures to ensure safety.
“I want to first express my condolences to the families and to the nation for the lives lost. As a government, we are deeply saddened by what happened,” said Yilwatda. “However, we must also address the safety measures that must be followed in such circumstances.”
He explained that while the government distributes food more widely than any other organization, including in high-risk areas such as IDP camps, they have never encountered stampedes because of strict safety protocols. He underscored the dangers of poorly organized events: “When an event isn’t properly planned, you get stampedes and loss of life. These challenges are not unique to our country—stampedes occur globally, even in developed nations.”
Yilwatda criticized the open and unregulated distribution methods seen recently. For instance, in Ibadan—home to a population of over 2 million—5,000 people were called to collect palliatives. Similarly, in Abuja, with a population between 2 and 3 million, the number of participants was insufficiently controlled. “Social media doesn’t help either, as it leads to an overwhelming turnout,” he added.
To prevent such incidents in the future, the minister proposed the following protocols:
- Registration: Require participants to register for the distribution event to ensure that only selected beneficiaries are allowed to collect aid.
- Police Presence: Coordinate with local police to secure the distribution points and effectively manage the crowd.
- Vulnerability Checks and Risk Assessments: Conduct vulnerability checks and risk assessments to identify potential hazards and ensure the safety of participants and organizers.
- Crowd Management: Establish a dedicated crowd management team to monitor the flow of people. If the crowd size exceeds safety limits, the event should be rescheduled.
Yilwatda stressed the importance of these protocols not only for the federal government but also for state and local governments, as well as any organizations conducting similar distributions. “State and local governments must adopt and enforce these protocols. At the federal level, we manage only a few events, but local governments need to ensure they are adhering to national safety guidelines,” he said.
The minister also outlined additional steps for organizing food distribution events:
- Coordination with Authorities: Organizers should notify the police and security agencies in advance, informing them of the location and expected number of beneficiaries.
- Venue Selection: The venue must be selected in collaboration with law enforcement, ensuring it can accommodate the expected crowd safely.
- Post-Event Risk Evaluation: Following the event, organizers should assess the effectiveness of their safety measures and adjust protocols as needed for future distributions.
For organizations lacking the resources to implement these protocols, Yilwatda encouraged them to reach out to the federal government for support and assistance.
By adhering to these safety measures, Yilwatda believes that future palliative distributions can be carried out without the tragic consequences seen in recent events.
