At least 16 people died in stampedes when a half million people were invited to apply for fewer than 5,000 Nigerian government jobs, during a recruitment drive for the immigration service. The official News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday quoted Interior Minister Abba Moro as saying the 16 died in five locations around the country on Saturday. He said they lost their lives through their impatience. The Education Rights Campaign blamed his ministry for inviting more applicants than centres could accommodate. It said 65,000 people were invited to the Abuja National Stadium that has a capacity for 60,000. Seven died there. The stampedes late on Saturday show the desperation for jobs in Africas second biggest economy and most populous nation, where oil wealth has enriched elites and helped the economy grow by more than 6% a year but has failed to create employment. Officials said only one entrance to the 60,000-capacity stadium in Abuja was open during the aptitude test for applicants to join the immigration service. Reuters counted seven bodies at the national hospital where the dead and injured were taken. Tayo Haastrup, a spokesman for the hospital, said there were several in a critical but stable condition. We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of the young citizens who were at the exercise not only to secure jobs but to be allowed the opportunity to contribute towards the development of the nation, said Olisa Metuh, spokesman of Nigerias ruling Peoples Democratic party.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:14:40 +0000
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