A eye witness at the Abuja National Stadium said 25 people died and over 50 persons were injured as panicked job-seekers stampeded during Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise on Saturday.
"It was up to fifty persons that were injured and 25 were dead. Al though there has been no official list of casualties yet but I witnessed the incident, said Abayomi, a professional photographer in Abuja.
Saheed, a Nigerian based in Lagos said, "Unfortunately those that will get the jobs are not in the crowd. One day the table will turn to favour the poor. My their innocent soul res in peace, may God reward those put us where we are accordingly."
"I weep for this innocent fellows....God please guide our leaders right, help our youth the truth to know. Amen!, says Austin in Port Harcourt.
Idris Farouk, a Nigerian in France said, "It is shameful and sad to see thousands of Nigerians scramble for jobs in a football pitch. It is unacceptable and the authorities responsible should be brought to book. They must tell us why they invited that large numbers of applicants on the same day."
"This is an opportune time for the government of the day to atone for his recklessness and do things right. First the Comproller General of the immigration must tell Nigerians the meaning of the recruitment exercise holding in football stadium across the county.
"Government should please create jobs and make life meaningful for Nigerians, I am tired of doing unbefitting jobs to eke a living in Finland. I am a qualified civil engineer and would return home if there are openings at home. But stories like this scare me and I don't think I can make it home soon, said Francis.
The sheer size of the crowds was a testament to the large numbers of unemployed youths in Nigeria, most of whose 170 million citizens live on less than two dollars a day, while the country lags behind in key development indicators such as health. Unemployment is a particular challenge, with an estimated 37.5 percent of under-25s out of work, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
There are so many questions to be asked by the relevant government authorities. Here's a few:
1. What is the rationale for organising a recruitment test in a football stadium?
2. What's there due process in the release of the Abuja stadium to the Nigeria Immigration?
3. Why was there only a single entrance opened for the exercise knowing-fully the expected applicants attending the event?
4. The Nigeria Immigration should inform the public what's the total number of applicants expected on the fateful day?
5. What's the available job opening in the immigration service?
6. What security and safety measures was in place for the recruitment exercise?
7. Is the exercise a regional, state or federal recruitment exercise ?
We await an official response from the authorities as to the happenings on March 15 at the Abuja National Stadium.
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