Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has listed rules and regulations event organisers must adhere to before engaging in the distribution of palliative in the country.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Yilwatda said it is important that organisers register such events, involve security operatives like the police, and carry out a risk assessment and vulnerability checks, among others to avoid future stampedes and deaths.
Yilwatda’s advice came following deaths recorded during palliative distribution in Abuja, Ibadan and Anambra last week.
He expressed sympathy with the families of the victims but insisted that safety measures ought to have been put in place to avoid the tragedies.
“Mark you, we distribute food more than any organisation, and you would never hear of a stampede. We even distribute more than what these people are giving, even in harsher conditions but you won’t hear of any hazard. We go to areas where people are more desperate, IDP centres,” he said.
The minister warned that it is improper to throw palliative distribution open where millions are determined to smile at home with bags of rice and other items.
“You can’t just throw open distribution of palliatives. For instance in Ibadan, they have a population of over 2 million, and you are saying you want 5000 people to come and collect,” he said.
“However, when you have such a programme, you ask people to come and register, and then you select those that will benefit.”
He added that the presence of security operatives at distribution points will go a long way to help maintain peace and order once vulnerability checks and risk assessments are observed.
“Then you pick distribution points if there are too many. You mount police officers there. You do vulnerability checks and risk assessments- these will prevent the stampede and deaths,” Yilwatda said.
