The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the food queue stampedes in parts of Nigeria during the 2024 Yuletide season to poor organisation.
Appearing on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-End Review, Yilwatda stated that stampedes were not unique to Nigeria, citing similar incidents in more developed countries such as the US. He referenced the 2005 Hurricane Katrina and food distribution issues in Texas, which were also marred by poor organisation.
In December 2024, stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja resulted in the tragic loss of 70 lives, with many blaming hunger and the rising cost of food. The organisers of these private distribution programmes have been detained by the police.
Yilwatda emphasised that the Government is the largest distributor of relief materials in Nigeria, and unlike private initiatives, no stampedes have occurred during government-run programmes. He urged private donors to ensure proper organisation and to seek assistance from the ministry.
