This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-68271295

The article has changed 118 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 30 Version 31
Africa Live: Nigeria agency confirms deaths after rice stampede - BBC News Africa Live: Nigeria agency confirms deaths after rice stampede - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Mansur Abubakar
BBC News
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed Friday’s stampede at its rice selling point in Yaba, Lagos, which led to fatalities and injuries. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni discussed with Kenya's William Ruto about Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga's candidacy for the top African Union (AU) position.
The agency was selling subsidised rice to ordinary Nigerians amid skyrocketing food prices across the country. Mr Odinga is seeking support from different African countries to help him succeed current AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat when his term ends in February next year.
Last week the NCS had said it would distribute seized food items in its stores to tackle the current challenges of Mr Museveni hosted both Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga at his Kisozi country home on Monday.
food security. The exercise began on Friday. “I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it,”Mr Odinga shared on X, formerly Twitter.
Rice that had been seized as a result of an import ban was being sold at 10,000 naira ($6, £5) for a 25kg bag and a large crowd turned up. Such a bag normally costs about 40,000 naira. The meeting of the three leaders appears to have surprised many in both countries.
But things got out of hand after the organisers told the crowd to return the following day as they had ran out of stock. This follows recent rivalry between Kenya and Uganda and between Mr Ruto and Mr Odinga.
“Unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome,” NCS said in a statement Last year, Mr Odinga led a series of nationwide protests against President Ruto's government over the cost of living, sparking political tensions between the leaders.
It said the desperate crowd charged through the barricades in search of rice bags in the emptied containers. In November, a bitter row over fuel supplies erupted between Kenya and landlocked Uganda, with Mr Museveni saying his country was being "cheated" by "parasites" and middlemen in Kenya.
"In the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded.” Following the meeting on Monday, President Ruto shared on X that he and President Museveni have “agreed on a way forward” and that “the issues affecting the flow of petroleum products between Kenya and Uganda are being resolved”.
Meanwhile, families have been mourning those who died at the stampede. Read more:
How Kenya stands to lose from Uganda oil row
FacebookFacebook
TwitterTwitter
ShareView more share optionsShare this postCopy this linkRead more about these links.ShareView more share optionsShare this postCopy this linkRead more about these links.
Copy this linkCopy this link