President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held organisers responsible for the recent tragic stampedes that claimed over 60 lives, including children, in Ibadan, Anambra, and Abuja during the distribution of relief materials.
Addressing the incidents during a Presidential Media Chat on Monday, Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and attributed the chaos to poor planning and execution by the event organisers.
“It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be more disciplined in our society. My condolences to those who lost loved ones,” Tinubu said.
He criticized the lack of coordination, stating, “I see this as a very grave error on the part of the organisers. It is good to give, but it must be done in an organised and disciplined manner. For the past 25 years, I have been giving out foodstuffs and commodities, and I have never experienced such incidents because we prioritize order. If you don’t have enough to give, don’t publicize it.”
Watch the video below;
https://x.com/channelstv/status/1871289188445818970?t=QJqyz2Ca9Nuh2NOT6KOgng&s=19
The president also addressed concerns about the size of his cabinet, ruling out any plans for a reduction.
“I am not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet because efficiency has been at the core of my selection of ministers,” Tinubu said, emphasizing his confidence in their capabilities.
On the controversial tax reform bills, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to their implementation, stating, “Tax reform is here to stay. We cannot continue with outdated practices in today’s economy. We must retool this economy, and I am confident in my capacity to do so. This is the dawn of a new era.”
Tinubu stood by his decision to remove the fuel subsidy, a move he described as necessary for Nigeria’s economic future.
“I don’t have any regrets whatsoever in removing the petrol subsidy. We were deceiving ourselves by spending our future. That reform was long overdue,” he said.
He highlighted the increased competition in the petroleum sector, noting that the pump price of petrol has started to drop as the market becomes saturated.
“The market is being saturated—no monopoly, no oligopoly—a free market economy flowing,” Tinubu added.
Tinubu dismissed the idea of implementing price control measures, emphasizing his preference for market-driven solutions.
“I don’t believe in price control; we will work hard to supply the market,” he said.
On security, the president expressed full confidence in his security chiefs, noting that wanton killings have drastically reduced in recent years.
