President Bola Tinubu has announced the suspension of all official outings in Lagos on Saturday, December 21, including the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta. Tinubu's action was to honour the victims of stampedes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Anambra state.
The two tragedies resulted in significant loss of life and left many others injured. Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade and other activities from his residence in Ikoyi, but dignitaries were left waiting when he cancelled his appearance after receiving briefings on the tragedies.
Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures immediately, noting the disturbing similarity between the recent stampedes and a tragic incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, earlier this week. He emphasized that local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organizations involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.
The president commiserated with the victims' families, praying for the peaceful repose of the souls of the innocent Nigerians who died in the stampedes. He also wished a quick recovery to the injured and reiterated that such mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols.
Tinubu's cancellation of events is a sombre reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and crowd control at public events. His call for stricter crowd control measures and adherence to safety protocols is a timely reminder of the need for vigilance and responsibility in event planning.
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) December 21, 2024
PRESIDENT TINUBU CANCELS SCHEDULED EVENTS IN LAGOS IN HONOUR OF VICTIMS OF STAMPEDES IN FCT, ANAMBRA
President Bola Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos today, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the… pic.twitter.com/xlnHZ1K3vh
