The concert, held on December 15 at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, was disrupted when a surge of attendees reportedly pushed the venue beyond its approved capacity. The situation led to heightened tension, poor crowd control and concerns over the safety of concertgoers, prompting organisers to halt the show.
According to accounts from fans present at the event, coordination challenges became evident as the crowd swelled. Several ticket holders claimed they were denied entry despite purchasing tickets, which were reportedly sold in batches. The overcrowding allegedly resulted in rowdiness and, in some cases, injuries, further escalating concerns on the ground.
The headline act, 2025 Afrobeats breakout star Fola, performed briefly before leaving the stage. He later addressed fans in an apology message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday, expressing regret over how the event unfolded.
In the message, the singer explained that the decision to stop the performance was taken in the interest of public safety. He acknowledged the disappointment experienced by fans and described reports of injuries as deeply troubling.
“People were hurt and that should never happen,” he said, adding that halting the show was necessary because safety must take priority over all other considerations.
Fola also assured fans that their concerns were being taken seriously, noting that efforts were underway to address the situation and make amends where possible.
The incident sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many fans criticising both the organisers and the artiste’s team over what they described as inadequate planning and insufficient crowd management for a highly anticipated show.
In a separate statement, Dangbana Republik, the record label to which Fola is signed, acknowledged shortcomings surrounding the event and reiterated its stance on fan safety. The label confirmed that the venue’s capacity had been exceeded, creating conditions it described as unsafe and unacceptable.
It stated that the performance was stopped immediately once it became clear that fans were at risk and added that discussions were ongoing with the event organisers to address the fallout and concerns of those affected.
“Your safety remains non-negotiable to us,” the label said.
As of the time of filing this report, organisers of the Mainland Block Party had not released an official statement addressing the incident or outlining steps to prevent a recurrence.