Pregnant women collapse in stampede for subsidised FG rice
Tragedy struck at the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) sales centre in Abuja, as pregnant women fainted amidst a chaotic stampede for subsidised rice distributed by the Federal Government.
The federal government initiative, which aimed at alleviating economic hardship, began a few weeks ago with the sale of a 50 kg bag of rice at a reduced rate of N40,000 for civil servants.
However, the high demand led to overwhelming crowds at the sales centre.
The Guardian also gathered that thousands of Nigerians, primarily women and men with National Identification Numbers (NIN), gathered at the centre, resulting in a stampede as people rushed to secure their share.
According to eyewitness Mrs. Joy, who spoke exclusively to The Guardian, said: “People were pushing and shoving, trying to get to the front of the door. I saw this pregnant woman fall to the ground, unconscious.
“It was a scene of desperation, people were pushing and shoving, trying to get to the front of the door. I saw a pregnant woman fall to the ground, unconscious.
“The government should have anticipated this and provided an adequate sales centre. It’s unacceptable that people were left to fend for themselves in such a situation.”
She noted that she has been seeing the women over three days.
Tragically, there were no emergency services present to manage the situation, and the affected women were transported to a nearby hospital by concerned citizens who witnessed the incident.
Reactions from other Nigerians echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the urgent need for better organisation in public welfare initiatives.
“This is meant to help us, but it turned into a disaster. The government needs to do better,” one woman lamented.
However, the chaotic execution raises questions about the planning and safety measures for such initiatives.
Authorities have yet to respond to the incident, leaving many citizens concerned about the future of similar programs aimed at alleviating economic hardship.
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