President Bola Tinubu has canceled all his official engagements in Lagos on Saturday, including his scheduled attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta, to honour the victims of recent stampedes in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.
The stampedes, which occurred at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, and a community centre in Okija, claimed several lives and left many others injured.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the decision in a statement titled, “President Tinubu cancels scheduled events in Lagos in honour of victims of stampede in FCT, Anambra.”
“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 said.
Tinubu was expected to attend the Lagos Boat Regatta, themed “Our Water, Our Heritage, Our Life,” from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi. Dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos State government and white cap chiefs, were already seated when the President canceled his appearance following briefings on the tragic events.
The President expressed deep sorrow over the tragedies and called on states and relevant authorities to implement strict crowd control measures immediately.
“These events bear a disturbing resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, where 35 children tragically lost their lives in a stampede,” he noted.
Tinubu also urged local and state authorities to hold organisations and corporate bodies accountable for operational lapses during charitable and humanitarian activities.
“These mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre- and post-event safety,” the President stressed.
While praying for the peaceful repose of those who lost their lives, Tinubu wished a quick recovery to the injured. He also extended his best wishes to the Lagos State government and organisers of the regatta for a successful and incident-free event.
