The member representing Ezeagu Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Chima Obieze, has withdrawn his proposed Crowd Control and Public Safety Bill following widespread reactions and concerns over its provisions, DAILY GAZETTE reports.
Obieze, who announced the withdrawal in a statement to the people of Enugu State, said the decision was taken to allow for wider consultations and greater public enlightenment on the purpose of the proposed legislation.
The lawmaker maintained that the bill was conceived primarily out of concern for the safety of residents, particularly children, women and persons living with disabilities, in view of the recurring loss of lives during crowded public events.
According to him, Nigeria has witnessed several fatal stampedes in recent years, including the deaths recorded during palliative distributions and public events in Anambra, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also recalled previous crowd-related tragedies in Enugu, including incidents associated with large religious gatherings and night shows at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Okpara Square.
Obieze said such tragedies were often linked to inadequate crowd management, poor emergency medical preparedness, insufficient entry and exit routes and inadequate security arrangements.
He explained that the proposed bill was intended to establish preventive measures and make it a legal responsibility for organisers of large gatherings to provide basic safety measures, including first aid, fire extinguishers, barricades, clearly defined exit routes and adequate security.
The lawmaker cited the Lagos State Safety Commission as an example of an institutional framework for regulating event and crowd safety, while also referencing measures adopted by Ondo, Anambra and Oyo states following stampede incidents.
However, Obieze acknowledged the concerns generated by the bill and said he had decided to withdraw it rather than proceed without sufficient consultation.
“Lawmaking is for the people,” he said, adding that lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that citizens understand the purpose and intended impact of new legislation.
He said he would formally write the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly to withdraw the bill, while pledging to continue consultations and public enlightenment on the issue.
Obieze thanked those who contributed to the debate, including critics, saying their views were important to the legislative process.
He added that the safety of the people of Enugu would remain his priority.
