The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Rinsola Abiola, has advised organisers of charity events to prioritise discretion and targeted outreach to ensure safety and efficiency.

Her statement follows recent stampedes in the country, which have claimed the lives of over 60 people.

In a statement shared on her official ‘X’ platform, Abiola outlined practical steps for managing charity initiatives, stressing the importance of avoiding unnecessary publicity to prevent overcrowding and security risks.

“The key to a safe and well-organised charity event is to avoid publicising it. Instead, identify the target beneficiaries and mobilise through community leaders or stakeholders,” she said.

The Guardian reported that about 10 people were feared dead, and several others injured during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.

On December 18, during a Christmas funfair at a school in Ibadan, a stampede resulted in the deaths of 35 children, with six others critically injured. The event was aimed at distributing cash and food to over 5,000 children.

Abiola therefore stressed the need for thorough vetting of beneficiary lists to ensure that aid reaches those in genuine need.

She recommended contacting beneficiaries directly with event details, while discouraging them from bringing unregistered individuals, except where assistance is needed for mobility.

On the event day, Abiola advised using the pre-approved list for admission and employing security measures to maintain order.

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She also suggested that publicity should be limited to post-event updates if required.

“Crowd control is challenging. It’s always better to avoid having a crowd to manage in the first place,” she said.