The Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, in the Federal Capital Territory has appealed to FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to meet its demands or face the ‘deadliest shutdown’ of hospitals in 14 days.

The President, Dr George Ebong, issued the warning on Monday during a press conference at Wuse District Hospital, Abuja.

While lauding the minister for his infrastructural projects in Abuja, Ebong stressed that there is an urgent need to also focus on the well-being of doctors who are on the verge of extinction due to economic hardship.

According to him, the minister should concentrate on human development the same way he is doing in the infrastructural sector.

He noted that the FCT minister has 14 days to act on the demands to avert what he described as the deadliest shutdown of hospitals in the nation’s capital.

“First we have to appreciate the minister for his infrastructural development in the FCT since his emergence.

“We want him to know that doctors is an abandoned project. While he fixes the infrastructural abandoned project, we are the human abandoned projects. We believe the minister can deal with the challenge.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has mandated government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, on Saturday in Abuja.

Gakeeper recalls that at least 10 people, including children died, while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede on Saturday during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by a Catholic church in the Maitama Area of Abuja.

According to Wike, the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.

He sympathized with the victims and directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.

While describing the incident as painful, the Minister prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.

He applauded the police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention.

“The promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has mourned the victims of the stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, which claimed several lives and left many others injured.

Gatekeeper reports that a day after the tragic incident, 35 minors have been confirmed dead.

In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his condolences to the government and people of Oyo State and, particularly, to the grieving families who have lost their children in the unfortunate event.

“President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly.

“The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.

“In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event,” the statement read.

The President stressed that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.

Tinubu also urged the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children, arguing that no event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives.