By Mosope Kehinde
Advocates for child protection have urged the government to implement stringent safety measures to prevent stampedes at events with large gatherings.
They expressed these concerns to journalists in Ibadan while reacting to the December 18, 2024, stampede at a children’s funfair held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
Oyo State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, CPN, Dr Rosemary Odigbo, commiserated with the victims’ families and emphasized key measures such as pre-registering beneficiaries, involving relevant groups in selection processes, decentralizing distribution locations, and enforcing robust safety protocols and crowd control measures.
Dr Odigbo urged the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the stampede.
She stated, “An independent committee should be established to investigate the causes of the stampede. Their focus will include examining event planning, crowd control measures, and safety protocols. Findings from the investigation should be made public and measures put in place to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. Expanding distribution sites across the city to decentralize gatherings, separate queues or dedicated time slots for pregnant women, the elderly, and children to ensure their safety during events.”
She also stressed the need for the government to prioritize child safety policies, food security, community farming, food bank initiatives, and sustainable food systems as long-term solutions.
An orphanage operator, Mrs Kehinde Aiyeola, highlighted the importance of proper planning and event management, warning that good intentions could become futile without adequate preparation.
Child Rights advocate, Mrs. Ibukunoluwa Otesile, called for Nigerians to prioritize child protection issues and recommended introducing emergency management education in schools to mitigate potential disasters.
She also urged the Oyo State House of Assembly, OYHA, to enact laws regulating large gatherings to prevent similar incidents.
An executive of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN in Oyo State, Dr Lateefat Dairo clarified that the advocacy aims to promote orderliness and contentment during such events rather than assigning blame for the Ibadan stampede.
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