The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has advised politicians to desist from politicizing the tragic stampedes during food distribution exercises in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija.

He argued that similar occurrences were recorded during past administrations, stressing it should not be linked to President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The Minister, however, sympathised with the families of the deceased, adding that the incidents show the importance of proper crowd management during such charitable activities.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents,” the minister said.

While acknowledging the noble intentions of organizers seeking to relieve vulnerable members of society, the minister admonished all individuals and organizations planning similar events to comply with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on liaising with police formations for effective crowd control and security measures.

He emphasized that collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is crucial to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.

“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, before the current administration, as such, making any attempt to link these tragedies to the President’s reforms is unfounded and disingenuous,” he said.

Idris said the reforms, while repositioning the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth, are designed to uplift the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable, without causing distress.

He called for a collective sense of responsibility and urged citizens to unite to ensure that the Yuletide season is marked by peace, goodwill, and joy and free of preventable tragedies.

No fewer than 10 federal ministries and agencies under their purview got over N1tn each as appropriation in the 2025 budget, The PUNCH analysis has shown.

A breakdown of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the ministries include Police Affairs, Interior, Defence, Finance, Power, Works, and Budget and Economic planning.

Others are the ministries of Niger Delta, Education, and Health.

The proposed budget showed that the finance ministry got the highest allocation of N17.52tn. Majority of this is for salary payment. The amount is an increase of 87.78 per cent or N8.19tn from the N9.33tn allocated in 2023.

This was followed by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which got an increase of N2.33tn or 52.35 per cent to N6.78tn in the 2025 budget.

Third on the list is the Ministry of Defence with an appropriation of N2.92tn, indicating an increase of N1.34tn or 84.81 per cent. The Ministry of Interior got an allocation of N1.13tn from N461bn in 2024.

While the power ministry got a 510.46 per cent increase to N2.1tn from the N344bn in 2024, the works ministry also got a proposal of N1.14tn from N657.23bn.

Similarly, the Niger Delta ministry got an appropriation of N2.23tn, Education got N2.52tn and health got N1.91tn.

The Senate and the House of Representatives, at their separate plenaries last Thursday,  passed for second reading the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ 2025 budget presented on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu.

The budget was passed after various deliberations on the bill’s general principles by senators and House of Reps members who applauded the President for his good intentions for the country.

In the Senate, the budget was passed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations after being put to a voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session.

The budget has a revenue projection of N34.82tn to fund the aggregate expenditure of N47.9tn and a deficit of N13.0tn.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has said that petrol is going to sell at N935 per litre beginning from Monday (today) based on the latest arrangement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

IPMAN’s National President, Maigandi Garima, said the reduction in Dangote refinery’s ex-depot price for petrol and the uniform arrangement being put in place, would enable marketers to sell at N935 in their outlets nationwide, incurring a cost of N36 on logistics.

“Dangote refinery has brought another new arrangement of loading and pricing by which marketers would pay a fixed ex-depot price of N899.50k.

“The refinery is running a programme whereby it wants the fuel consumption across the country to be at the same rate. We are expecting the new arrangement to kick-start on Monday. Previously, the loading price was N970 per litre, but from Monday, petrol prices will drop to N935,” Garima stated.

The association also stated that over 30,000 of its members are set to commence petrol loading from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Port Harcourt Refining Company following the reduction of the ex-depot price of the product to N899 per litre.

This came as it was observed that the pump price of petrol dropped on Sunday to between N950 and N980 per litre in a few filling stations in Lagos including MRS, BOVAS and NNPC. However, the cost was above N1,000 per litre in many other outlets in the state.

But IPMAN promised on Sunday that the price would drop further, as it said the cost of petrol would reduce to N935 per litre in more filling stations by Monday (today) in view of Dangote refinery’s new arrangement.

Similarly, retail outlet owners under the auspices of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria have begun registration with MRS filling station to lift Dangote petrol at N935 per litre.

The IPMAN National Publicity officer, Chinedu Ukadike, and the PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed these during separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH on Sunday.

The development came after intense pricing competition in the nation’s downstream sector, which triggered a price war between NNPCL and Dangote due to a reduction in the ex-depot price to N899 per litre.

On Saturday, the NNPCL, in a surprising development, slashed petrol prices by 12 per cent, to the delight of Nigerians and marketers.

This decision, coming days after the Dangote Refinery reduced its price to N899, was confirmed by the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria in a statement on Saturday.

Before now, petrol prices had consistently increased, causing customers to worry that the price hike might be sustained during the festive season.

The reduction in price to N935 in Lagos confirms projections by marketers and was exclusively reported by The PUNCH last Friday.


Providing further updates on the preparations for product lifting, the IPMAN publicity officer stated that marketers are getting ready to start loading petrol at a reduced price, as the national oil company has updated its pricing on the purchase portal.

Ukadike also said that the competition for market share between NNPCL and Dangote is beneficial for Nigerians because, in the end, it will reveal the true cost of PMS production and the expenses incurred in logistics.

According to him, the price war is central to a deregulated oil sector.

He said, “NNPCL has changed their price at their portal. It means that everyone who has access to that portal can be able to request and pay for products. Once you pay, you will called to the depot to pick up your products. Yes, they have changed the price on their portal.”

He continued, “For us, the reduced price remains a welcome development as that is the beauty of a deregulated sector. You know, when there are multiple sources of petroleum products, there will be production and pricing competition. That interplay of pricing has come to the centre stage, and it is now to the advantage of the commuters who wish that this petroleum product will be sold at a lesser price.

“The fight to control market share between NNPCL and Dangote is healthy for Nigerians because, at the end of the day, we would know the actual cost of PMS production and the amount spent on logistics.

“It will also help marketers in our retailing capacity and pick up more volumes. The cost today is very high, and the reduced price will help us pick more volumes. Commuters are no longer taking products the way they used to but with the price decrease, there will be heavy consumption.”

He further noted that marketers will not stick to a single supplier but patronise both refineries based on the location.

Ukadike said, “We would be picking our products from both refineries but the most important thing is the nearness to retail outlets. But Dangote arrangement is via MRS, and NNPCL is helping to load from other depots.”

Regarding a potential price reduction, the IPMAN national officer explained that marketers do not set prices; instead, the factors of demand and supply influence the price, which is why prices vary across the country.

The national officer also assured Nigerians that filling stations owned by its members will be open throughout the festive period and avoid artificial scarcity.

On his part, the PETROAN president said its members are registering with MRS filling to pick up products from its stations as the Dangote and PH refineries haven’t started product disbursement to its members.

He also stressed that a smooth product off-take starting today (Monday) will accelerate the implementation of the price reduction at retail centres nationwide.

He said, “We have not started picking up products from the Port Harcourt refinery, even from the Dangote refinery. But some of our members, out of their magnanimity, are trying to sell at a cheaper price even in Abuja.

“Dangote price mechanism brings value for PETROAN members, and we are partnering with MRS filling station to sell at N935 per litre nationwide. Our members partnering with MRS will do that. The station has opened its valves to accommodate as many members that can work with them. So from this morning (Sunday), we were already up and running on their platform to register our members. It is a wonderful thing that is coming up and we hope NNPCL will also follow suit.

“The economies of scale favour Dangote, but NNPCL is doing its best to flood the country with available products. I think a lot of good things will happen in the sector even till the new year.

“So let’s see how offtake of products will pan out across the country from tomorrow. If the demography of offtake spreads everywhere and we can compute what the logistics costs would be, it will be easy to predict what will happen. But, certainly, when refiners reduce price, and we can buy directly, we will ensure Nigerians benefit, and that is what PETROAN is doing.”

Also, on a potential price drop, the PETROAN official said, “We have mentioned severally that pricing was still going to drop, and that is the trajectory and reality of how this whole thing is going to play out. So gradually, the price will go down and then come down and vary. It’s not going to be static, and that is why I think it’s not right to do an armchair projection.”

Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery has said it is now operating at 85 per cent capacity and is on course to deliver European-standard products by January.

“We have gone up to 550,000 bpd, that is 85 per cent capacity in crude distillation,” Edwin Devakumar, head of the refinery, said in an interview with CNBC Africa.

The 650,000-bpd Dangote oil refinery built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote in Lagos aims to compete with European refiners when operating at full capacity but has been struggling to secure sufficient crude locally.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that the 2025 budget proposal lacks the structural and fiscal discipline needed to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges.

The former vice president made this disclosure in a statement on Sunday, reacting to the 2025 budget proposal.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week presented a N49.7 trillion 2025 budget to the National Assembly. The President had based the budget on key economic assumptions, including a N36.36 trillion revenue target, inflation reduction to 15.75 per cent, an exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar, oil production at 2.06 million barrels per day, a crude oil price of $70 per barrel, and a N13.39 trillion budget deficit.

Reacting to the budget, Atiku stated that it reflects a continuation of business-as-usual fiscal practices where budgets fail to impact the lives of citizens.

According to him, the 2025 budget’s ability to foster sustainable economic growth and tackle Nigeria’s deep-rooted challenges is questionable.

Atiku also criticised the budget’s reliance on N13 trillion in borrowing to fund the deficit.

“Weak Budgetary Foundations: The 2024 budget’s underperformance signals poor budget execution. By Q3 of the fiscal year, less than 35 per cent of the allocated capital expenditure for MDAs had been disbursed, despite claims of 85 per cent budget execution. This underperformance in capital spending, crucial for fostering economic transformation, raises concerns about the execution of the 2025 budget.

“Disproportionate Debt Servicing: Debt servicing, which accounts for N15.8 trillion (33 per cent of the total expenditure), is nearly equal to the planned capital expenditure (N16 trillion, or 34 per cent). Moreover, debt servicing surpasses spending on key priority sectors such as defence (N4.91 trillion), infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion), and health (N2.4 trillion). This imbalance will likely crowd out essential investments and perpetuate a cycle of increasing borrowing and debt accumulation, undermining fiscal stability.

“Unsustainable Government Expenditure: The government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30 per cent of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises. The lack of concrete steps to curb wastage and enhance the efficiency of public spending exacerbates fiscal challenges, leaving limited resources for development.

“Insufficient Capital Investment: After accounting for debt servicing and recurrent expenditure, the remaining allocation for capital spending—ranging from 25 per cent to 34 per cent of the total budget—is insufficient to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate growth. This amounts to an average capital allocation of approximately N80,000 (US$45) per capita, which is insufficient to meet the demands of a nation grappling with slow growth and infrastructural underdevelopment.

“Regressive Taxation and Economic Strain: The administration’s decision to increase the VAT rate from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent is a retrogressive measure that will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede economic growth. By imposing additional tax burdens on an already struggling populace while failing to address governance inefficiencies, the government risks stifling domestic consumption and further deepening economic hardship.

“The 2025 budget lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline required to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges. To enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritise the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuating unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns. A shift toward a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery,” he stated.

Former Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has attributed the wave of defections from the Labour Party party to its failure to establish a sustainable structure after the 2023 elections.

Recalls that six LP lawmakers recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the House of Representatives.

These lawmakers include Rep. Tochukwu Chinedu Okere (Imo), Rep. Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Rep. Akiba Bassey (Cross River), and Rep. Esosa Iyawe (Edo).

In an interview with journalists in Lagos State on Sunday, Okupe noted that the Labour Party’s current challenges have left elected members seeking political relevance and survival elsewhere.

Okupe explained that the defections were predictable, as many elected officials would not remain in a party with uncertain prospects.

The former Labour Party chieftain also cited Peter Obi’s recent meeting with opposition leaders, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in Adamawa as a sign of open-ended options and possible exit from the party.

He said, “The Labour Party has historically been a fallback option for those unable to secure tickets in major parties. That was how we joined initially, and our presence boosted its fortunes.

“National Assembly members elected under the LP banner know their chances of returning in 2027 are slim without strong party structures. To secure their political future, they are aligning with more established parties.

“What does Obi’s meeting with Atiku tell you? It suggests that all options are on the table. Labour Party followers are not blind.”

Okupe further criticised the party leadership and Peter Obi for neglecting to develop a political structure after the election.

He added, “The Labour Party is not building or investing in structures. This failure is driving people away, and it will continue.” 

NNPC slashes price by 12%

Dangote hails Tinubu for crude for Naira deal

P/H Refinery fully operational – NNPCL

The competition among stakeholders in the downstream sector has caused a reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, better known as petrol, Sunday Vanguard has learnt.

Petrol, which sold at N1,020 per litre, dropped to N899 per litre after the Dangote Refinery in Lagos slashed the product’s price to N899.50k for marketers, last week.

Before now, petrol prices had consistently increased, causing customers to worry that the price hike might be sustained during the festive season.

Between September 16 and October 10, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, had raised fuel prices from N950 in Lagos and N1,019 in the North-East to N998 naira per litre, while in Abuja N1,030, making customers’ fears genuine.

But in a surprising development, the NNPCL has slashed petrol price by 12 per cent, making the product fairly affordable for customers.

This comes as the NNPCL debunked claims that the Port Harcourt Refinery had stopped operations.

Transportation costs

confirming the PMS price reduction, the National President of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, said N899 per litre was for Lagos, just as Warri, Oghara, Port Harcourt and Calabar would have N970 as their ex-pot price.

Gillis-Harry said: “The reduction in PMS price by NNPCL is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to making petroleum products more affordable for Nigerians. We commend NNPCL for responding to our call for affordable PMS prices.

“The benefits of the price reduction are many including reduced transportation costs. With lower PMS prices, motorists will spend less on fuel, leading to increased disposable income.

“Lower fuel prices will stimulate economic growth by reducing production costs and increasing demand for goods and services. The price reduction will lead to a decrease in the cost of living, enabling Nigerians to afford basic necessities and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Competitive pricing

Gillis-Harry also commended Dangote Refinery for its earlier price reduction, saying it helped to stimulate competition in the downstream sector.

According to him, a report submitted by PETROAN’s technical pricing team highlighted the pros and cons of competitive pricing.

He said: “The report noted that competitive pricing allows companies to maintain an advantage by strategically setting prices. This approach helps businesses understand their market position, attract new customers, and boost sales.

“The report also warns that competitive pricing can lead to compromised product quality. Therefore, PETROAN is calling on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, to ensure compliance with quality assurance standards.

“The Zonal leaderships of PETROAN and state Executive Councils across the 36 states of the federation have expressed optimism that the recent price reduction by NNPC will bring relief and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians at various retail outlets nationwide.

“This optimism stems from the fact that the price reduction will have a ripple effect on the economy, leading to reduced transportation costs, increased economic activity, and an improved standard of living for Nigerians.”

Monitor situation

Also speaking, Zonal chairman of PETROAN’s Eastern zone, Chief Sunny Nkpe, said as the price reduction takes effect, the orgainsation’s zonal and state executive councils would continue to monitor the situation.

According to Nkpe, this was to ensure that the benefits of the price reduction were passed on to the end-users.

On his part, National Public Relations Officer of PETROAN, Dr Joseph Obele, expressed optimism that PMS price would drop further before the end of January 2025, given the global decline in crude oil prices and the Naira’s recent gain against the dollar.

Crude-for-Naira deal

Meanwhile, President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, commended President Bola Tinubu for the positive impact of the Naira-for-crude swap deal, noting that it has led to reduction in the price of petrol.

Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, stated: “To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre. This price has already commenced in Lagos, and it will be offered nationwide starting Monday.

“The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value chain players to deliver high-quality petrol at cheaper prices. Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high-quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets.”

Operational

In a similar development, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPCL, Mr Olufemi Soneye, in a statement yesterday, insisted that Port Harcourt Refinery was not just operational but loading was in progress.

Soneye stated: “The attention of the NNPCL has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down. We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC. Preparation for the day’s loading is currently ongoing.”

Group blames worsening hunger

Tinubu cancels Lagos outings

IGP orders investigation

Three days after no fewer than 36 persons died in a stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State, many, including children, have died in similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra State while struggling for Christmas palliatives.

The twin incidents, which happened, yesterday, left the nation shocked given that they came on the heels of the Oyo incident.

More than 10 people lost their lives and several others were injured during the distribution of food items by Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.

Sunday Vanguard learned the incident occurred as thousands of residents scrambled to receive palliatives distributed by the church.

A non-governmental organization (NGO), Civil Society Legislation Advocacy Center (CISLAC), blamed the deaths on worsening hunger in the country.

The event, organised to provide relief to struggling residents, attracted over 3,000 people, mostly from Mpape, Gishiri and other nearby settlements.

National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev Fr Mike Umoh, confirmed the tragic development.

He said the exercise had been suspended following the event.

“Yes it’s true but with sketchy details,” the priest said.

An eyewitness described the scene as chaotic and tragic, saying that at least seven of the deceased were children.

Palliatives

Many attendees arrived as early as 4:00 am, hoping to secure their share of the palliatives.
The stampede occurred between 7:00 am and 8:00 am when the crowd surged forward.

“10 people have been reported dead, including children. We just received a call that they have passed on.
“Over 3,000 people came out to receive the palliative. It’s unfortunate. Some of them arrived as early as 4:00 am. Most of those present were residents of Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements.

The stampede occurred between 7:00 am and 8:00 am. The distribution of palliatives has been suspended indefinitely, and people are dispersing. May God receive the souls of the departed and protect us from harm,” the eyewitness, a mother of five, said.

However, a combined team of police, military and Department of State Services,DSS, officers were deployed to restore order and disperse the crowd.

The church premises, initially filled with anxious beneficiaries, gradually cleared as security personnel enforced the suspension.

Similarly, the Anambra stampede, which happened in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, saw many people losing their lives while struggling for Christmas rice.

Sunday Vanguard gathered the incident happened when an indigene of the community popularly known as Obijason was distributing his annual Christmas rice.

Bodies

One of the witnesses who recorded the video, who spoke in Igbo language, showed dead bodies of some victims at Our Lady’s Hospital, Okija.

In the viral video, the male voice said: “This thing happened in Okija now. People who went to share Obijason rice, look at people who died. We are in Our Lady’s now.

“They went to share Obijason rice and they were stampeded to death. See all of them, including women. These are people stampeded to death. See people’s dead bodies. They are all dead. They went to share Obijason rice.

“There are a lot of dead bodies. They are still bringing in dead bodies. This happened this morning. Even pregnant women were among them. It is happening now, 21 December. Abomination has happened.

“More dead bodies are still coming. This is Okija. We are in Our Lady’s. These are not those who are unconscious. They are still bringing more. They said what is here is more than 100 dead bodies. Tragedy happened.”

According to another eyewitness, the victims, mostly women and youths, had stationed themselves at the facility as early as 5 a.m. on Saturday, waiting for the distribution to begin at dawn.

Uncontrollable

He said the crowd became uncontrollable when the distribution began, leading to the stampede.
The dead bodies, and those who sustained injuries, were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
In a viral video, dead bodies, including pregnant women, littered the vicinity of the hospital’s mortuary.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled all his official events in Lagos in honour of the victims.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said one of Tinubu’s outings included the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta.

According to the statement, dignitaries, including top officials of Lagos State government and white cap chiefs were already seated when the President cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.

The President commiserated with victims of the incidents and urged states and relevant authorities to immediately enforce strict crowd control measures.

Tinubu noted that it was very disturbing, saying the events bore a “distressing” resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

He reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre and post-event safety.

Tragedies

Also sympathising with the victims, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, said the tragedies reflected the systemic failures in Nigeria.

He said:”This morning, reports emerged of at least 10 people losing their lives in Abuja while scrambling for palliatives, with many others injured.

“Now, I just heard that about 19 more lives were lost in another stampede in Okija, Anambra State, as people struggled to receive food items.

“While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organizers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.

“The desperate quest for survival in these harsh economic times has driven our people to extremes in their search for food, often at the cost of their lives.’’

In a related development, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sympathized with his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, and the people of the state over the stampede that occurred during a children’s carnival at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, which claimed 35 lives.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a letter, titled: “Letter of Condolence – Christmas Stampede Tragedy,” also extended his condolences to the families of the dead.

He described the incident as devastating, saying the event had cast a shadow of grief not only over Oyo State but across Nigeria.

IGP

Also, Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an investigation into the incidents in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja.

In a statement, the IGP ordered commissioners of police in affected states to “carry out thorough investigations into these ugly incidents for further legal actions”.

”The IGP has hereby warned groups and organizers of similar events to ensure the involvement of security agencies as negligence on their part is criminal and would not be overlooked, as provided for in Sec. 196 of the Penal Code and Sec. 344 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the statement stated.

Also reacting to the incidents, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, blamed worsening hunger for the deaths in different parts of the nation.

Execuitive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Rafsanjani, said this in a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard.

He said: Unfortunately, government appears detached from the realities on the ground and has failed to take necessary steps to address the situation.’

Former Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called for the resignation of the current crop of leaders in Nigeria to make way for a new generation of leaders.

This is as he blamed the hardship and hunger caused by the reforms introduced by the government of President Bola Tinubu for the recent stampedes which occurred in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities of Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States in quick succession.

Okonkwo, in a statement released on Saturday via his X account, said the Tinubu government has reduced the worth of Nigerian lives to ₦5,000 and grains of rice.

According to him, the struggle of the people to get rice to satisfy their hunger follows the hardship they’ve been subjected to by the harsh policies of the Tinubu government, which has destroyed their human dignity.

While praying for the souls of the dead victims to rest in peace and for quick recovery for those injured, Okonkwo said the patience of Nigerians is running out, saying Nigeria needs a new crop of leaders.

“The deaths of innocent children and Nigerians in Ibadan, Maitama, and Okija communities of Oyo, Abuja, and Anambra States respectively from stampede resulting from struggles for N5,000.00 and rice is a manifestation that hunger and hardship in Nigeria under Tinubu are becoming unbearable.

“The reforms are excruciating and destructive to the dignity of the human person in Nigeria. Nothing is working. It’s obvious that in Nigeria today, the worth of a Nigerian life is reduced to N5k and grains of rice.

“If these incompetent and corrupt leaders have any sense of shame, they will collectively resign and make way for a new generation of leaders that have a conscience to pilot the affairs of Nigeria.

“The patience of Nigerians is wearing out, and this regime should sit up before the people compel it to sit up. God will not forsake Nigeria. The day of reckoning will come one day.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may God punish and torture the souls of our demented leaders,” he submitted.

Nine victims of the stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, have been discharged from Maitama District Hospital following Saturday’s tragic incident, News360 Nigeria reports.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, ordered free medical treatment for all those injured during the church’s annual food outreach program. The stampede resulted in 10 fatalities, including four children, and left 10 others injured.

A statement by Lere Olayinka, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, disclosed thatgovernment hospitals have been instructed to provide free treatment to the victims. Wike also directed that police approval must be obtained for future public palliative distributions to prevent similar tragedies.

Expressing condolences, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls lost and pledged that the government would ensure proper care for the injured. He praised the swift response of security agencies, which he said helped manage the situation effectively.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, also extended his condolences to the church and the victims’ families. He confirmed that nine of the injured had been discharged, while urging organizations conducting similar activities to involve security agencies and use organized distribution methods, such as coupons and group divisions, to avoid overcrowding.

Engr. Mohammed further encouraged residents to utilize the 112 toll-free emergency line for prompt assistance in case of disasters.