President Bola Tinubu canceled all scheduled engagements in Lagos, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta, to honor victims of recent stampedes in Abuja and Anambra State that left multiple casualties.
The President, who had planned to watch the regatta from his Ikoyi residence, made the decision following briefings on the tragedies, which occurred at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Abuja and a community center in Okija, Anambra State.
Expressing condolences to the victims and their families, Tinubu called for immediate enforcement of crowd control measures by state governments and relevant authorities. He cited similarities between these incidents and another recent tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight of events organized by charities and humanitarian groups.
The President extended prayers for the souls of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He stressed the importance of event planners adhering to safety protocols to prevent such avoidable mishaps.
Tinubu also sent his best wishes to the Lagos State government and organizers of the regatta, themed “Our Water, Our Heritage, Our Life,” for a successful and safe event.
