Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has blamed President BolaTinubu for the stampedes that occured in two states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja last week, saying the unfortunate incidents were as a result of government’s woeful economic policies that have triggered hardship and hunger across the country.

The PDP stated this Sunday in a statement signed by its national publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and sent to Nationwide Reports.

It would be recalled that 33 children died earlier in the week in Ibadan as a result of stampede that occured at a funfair organized by former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi in partnership with a radio station to share food for the less privileged.

On Saturday, 13 persons died during palliative sharing exercise to the poor by a Catholic church parish Maitama, Abuja while 35 others died in Okija, Anambra State when stampede occured at the venue where rice was to be shared by a philanthropist in the community.

Reacting to the incidents, the opposition PDP said- “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes the widespread food stampede in the country as an ugly testament of the alarming level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival currently plaguing our nation under the overtly insensitive, corrupt and rudderless Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

“The Party laments the tragic stampede at private events in Oyo and Anambra States as well as the FCT, Abuja which claimed the lives of about 60 vulnerable citizens including children in their desperate struggle for food as a result of the pervasive hunger in the land occasioned by the anti-people policies of the APC administration.

“The PDP is devastated that the APC-led administration has wrecked our once thriving economy and pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into abject poverty and hunger with many citizens, not being able to afford their daily meals, now resorting to suicide and desperate measures including slavery mission abroad and fighting for crumbs for survival.

*It is heartbreaking that despite our abundant resources as a nation, Nigerians have been subjected to agonizing life where they die struggling for food.

*This horrifying situation in the country further confirms the APC as a party of “political vampires and buccaneers” who have no iota of regard for human life but rather derive pleasure in the suffering and death of citizens including innocent children.

*Only this explains why the APC administration continues in arrogant false performance claims including empty assurances of food sufficiency while deliberately failing to make the required investments to boost the productive sector, particularly in agriculture and food production.

“This also explains why the APC administration has rejected all advice and suggestions by the PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians to review the hasty implementation of the suffocating policies of abrupt increase in the price of petroleum products and the floating of the Naira, despite the crippling consequences on the productive sector and life-discounting effect on the citizenry.

“More provoking is that instead of deploying the nation’s resources for the wellbeing of the people, the APC leaders are engaged in massive looting through direct pillaging of government vaults, budget padding, contract inflation, oil subsidy scam, palliative racketeering and phony programmes which have no benefit to the lives of the citizens.

“The PDP calls on Nigerians to hold the Tinubu-led APC administration responsible for the remote cause of these tragic occurrences for which it must recompense.

“Our Party insists that any administration that is sensitive and cares for the people would have since introduced intervention programmes to ease the suffering and improve on the welfare of the masses which is the primary purpose of government.

“For the umpteenth time, the PDP demands the immediate review of all the suffocating economic and tax policies of the APC administration which are bringing misery and death to Nigerians daily.

“The PDP commiserates with Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for the death of the children at the private event which has brought agony and pain to many families and the people of Oyo State at this time.

“Our Party commends Governor Makinde for his rapid response in swiftly moving the victims to hospitals for immediate medical assistance which helped to save many lives.

“The PDP also condoles with the families of the victims of the Anambra State and Abuja food stampede while calling for an investigation into the immediate cause of the three tragic incidents so as to prevent such sad occurrence in the future.

“Our Party prays for the repose of the souls of dead and speedy recovery for the injured.”

Information officers in Anambra State have been charged to commence massive enlightenment campaigns on ‘Operation Udo Ga Achi,’ a Joint Security outfit recently launched by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor gave the charge while speaking during the End of Year Get Together/Award Winning Day organized by staff of the Ministry at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.

He tasked the Information Officers to  sensitize the people as the network was initiated to address security challenges in the state and to ensure a crime free yuletide.

“There is no hiding place for criminals in Anambra State. Let everyone know that time has passed when people can live in the bush, stealing, kidnapping, killing people, extorting money under the guise that they are agitators or ESN fighting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu or protecting South East.

“If you see something,say something because the person free today may be a victim tomorrow. Disseminate the information. In the case of danger call 5111, it is a toll free phone number and the persons managing the line have a good reputation for protecting people’s identity with utmost confidentiality,” said Mefor.

The commissioner further stated that he was present to accomplish the promise he made to the information officers four months ago when he assumed office as the commissioner, saying that he was brought in to re-jig the ministry and those who were willing to give their best would be highly motivated.

“It is not ‘Ike Otuonye’ rather it has been collective efforts. Solidarity made you available here, from September 17, 2024 till now 4 months and 2 days since I came onboard. If you have not been writing, the bulletin which the ministry publishes every week wouldn’t have been coming out up to the current 9th edition.

“Two committees have been established to ensure that Anambra people and the world are abreast of the good works, developments, programs and projects accomplished by the present Soludo led administration at different sectors of the state. One committee is at Ministry of Information headquarters and another one is at ABS for our weekly live Radio/TV interactive programs tagged ‘ Ask the Commissioner.”

Mefor also reviewed the performance sheet of the information officers with reference to the number of reports they send in from their various stations and commended those who endeavored to send in their news stories for the bulletin, Facebook, Instagram, X handle and website publication platforms but frowned at those information officers who did not bother to file in stories.

“The primary role of the information officers are to collect information not just a management role of the Public Relations Officer (image makers).Let’s reorganize our thoughts and approach the work with new zeal because even the governor is interested in seeing your individual performances,” he said.

Highlights of the event was announcement of the Commissioner’s Prize winners/Best News reporters with highest number of stories with Juliana Nwachukwu meeting winning 1st position, Chizoba Okeke as 2nd while Ugwunze Uzochukwu took the 3rd position.

Other awardees included Obiageli Nwankwo, Ifeyinwa Ogwo, Michael Ezenwata, Chukwuka Ugokwe, Chukwudi Nwauba, Uche Kalu and Nnedimma Okeke

Earlier, the Director’s Prize Award recipients were Regina Igwebuike (Best Editor), Uche Kalu(Most Hardworking Headquarter staff), Uchechi Emmanuella Okani(Most punctual Headquarter staff).

Russia had announced that it had developed an mRNA vaccine for cancer patients which would be available from early 2025 and will be distributed for free. The vaccine will cost the Russian government 300,000 rubles per dose.

According to India Today, Russia has been seeing a rise in cancer cases and now has a vaccine to fight it. It says the vaccine will treat cancer patients and not prevent cancer. It is an mRNA vaccine. It will be distributed for free to Russians, according to a TASS report.

Andrey Kaprin, head of the Radiology Medical Research Centre of the Ministry of Health, said this vaccine would be launched in early 2025, according to reports from state-run media. It will cost the state 300,000 rubles (USD 2,869) per dose.