Stampede: Palliative Distributors Must Obtain Clearance, Says LASG

The Lagos State Government has asked event organisers particularly those who would be distributing food items to residents as a form of palliative to obtain clearance from the government.

The state warned prospective event managers in the state to ensure strict compliance with safety measures during the yuletide season and beyond.

This was made known at a joint press conference organised by the state’s Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations and Ministry of Information and Strategy at Alausa-Ikeja on Sunday.

The Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, said the move became necessary following incidents of stampedes in some parts of the country during palliative sharing, as well as a reported incident of stage collapse at a beach event in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Omotoso called on event organisers to make adequate preparation for crowd control before embarking on any philanthropic gestures and events to forestall stampedes.

“We are here on behalf of the governor to tell Lagosians that he (the governor) feels concerned about the report of stampedes in some parts of the country and will not want such happening here in Lagos. In Lagos State, we have adequate preparations for every big event and we do so every year, we used to have the Greater Lagos Fiesta, and this year, we added the Boat Regatta and others.

“Unfortunately, we got a report that at Sol Beach Victoria Island, there was a stage collapse during a show and fortunately, nobody died in that incident. This has made us say that we do not want the matter to just slide away.

“We are here on behalf of the governor to tell Lagosians that he (the governor) feels concerned about the report of stampedes in some parts of the country and will not want such happening here in Lagos. In Lagos State, we have adequate preparations for every big event and we do so every year, we used to have the Greater Lagos Fiesta, and this year, we added the Boat Regatta and others.

“Unfortunately, we got a report that at Sol Beach Victoria Island, there was a stage collapse during a show and fortunately, nobody died in that incident. This has made us say that we do not want the matter to just slide away.

“To prevent such occurrences in Lagos State, all individuals or groups that intend to hold an event or distribute any items at all to large gatherings of people are advised to seek clearance from the Safety Commission,” he said