Orthodox and historic churches have an overall effectiveness score ranging from 74% to 96%

"Orthodox and historic churches have an overall effectiveness score ranging from 74% to 96%, making them far more suitable for palliative distribution compared to modern Gen Z Pentecostal churches, which score around 50%."

The tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State, where over 35 innocent children lost their lives in a stampede, underscores the need for a better-organized and systematic approach to distributing palliatives. Such incidents highlight failures in crowd control, planning, and execution, particularly when resources are distributed without adequate structure or collaboration with trusted institutions.

Why Churches and Religious Institutions Can Help

Churches, especially older, orthodox, and well-organized ones, possess:

• Community Presence: They are deeply rooted in communities, often acting as neutral entities trusted by locals.
• Organizational Capacity: Many have long histories of handling large-scale programs, including charity, education, and healthcare initiatives.
• Volunteer Base: They have established groups (e.g., youth fellowships, women’s organizations) trained for orderly operations.
• Infrastructure: Churches have physical structures, such as halls, schools, and mission centers, suitable for safe, controlled distribution.

Learning from the Ibadan Tragedy

The Ibadan incident underscores critical gaps:

• Crowd Control: The lack of proper management leads to chaos, especially when distribution is seen as a “first-come, first-served” event.
• Poor Targeting: Open distribution often attracts large, uncontrollable crowds, instead of focusing on the most vulnerable groups.
• Lack of Trusted Intermediaries: Without intermediaries who are trusted by both the government and the public, distributions can become disorganized and unsafe.

Actionable Recommendations

To prevent such incidents, the Nigerian government should:

Partner with Established Institutions:

• Work with churches, mosques, and other trusted religious institutions.
• Leverage their structures for systematic identification and distribution to vulnerable individuals.

Create a Registration System:

• Use digital platforms and community leaders to pre-register vulnerable individuals.
• Avoid unregulated “walk-in” scenarios that lead to overcrowding.

Utilize Trusted Churches and Religious Bodies:

• Churches like the Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, and ECWA already have organized hierarchies and a track record of accountability.
• Partnering with them ensures better targeting and trust from the public.

Ensure Safety and Order:

• Train volunteers on crowd management and safety protocols.
• Use staggered distribution schedules and multiple centers to avoid large gatherings.

Monitor and Evaluate:

• Implement independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure fair and transparent distribution.
• Use local leaders and clergy to verify the reach and impact.

Why This Matters

The loss of young lives in Ibadan is a painful reminder of the consequences of uncoordinated efforts. 

Leveraging the structured networks of orthodox churches and other trusted institutions can:

• Reduce chaos and potential harm.
• Ensure palliatives reach those who need them most.
• Restore public confidence in relief efforts.

It is a tragedy that could have been avoided with better planning, and this should be a turning point for how palliative distributions are handled in Nigeria.

Thank you.