Recent stampedes in Oyo State, Anambra State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that claimed the lives of about 65 Nigerians have drawn sharp criticism from the National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
He expressed deep concern over these tragedies, attributing them to the worsening hunger and poverty crisis in the country, which he described as a dire epidemic.
Highlighting the scale of the problem, Alhaji Ibrahim noted that approximately 40 children lost their lives in Ibadan during a carnival stampede, while 20 people died in Okija, Anambra State, during a palliative distribution event. On the same day, over 10 individuals perished in Abuja at a food distribution organized by Catholic churches. “These tragic events underscore one harsh truth: there is hunger in the land,” he said.
Citing World Bank data, Ibrahim revealed that Nigeria’s poverty rate climbed from 38.9% in 2023 to 40.7%, with 87 million citizens living below the poverty line. This places Nigeria as the country with the second-largest impoverished population globally, trailing only India.
He also referenced other poverty-related tragedies, such as fatal incidents involving people collecting fuel from accident sites and a surge in kidnappings, with over 2 million abductions recorded in the past year, leading to $1.42 billion in ransom payments. “Hunger is a major driver of crime,” Ibrahim stated, emphasizing that inflation and poor economic management have exacerbated the crisis.
He criticized the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, stating that they have deepened hardship for millions of Nigerians. Stressing the need for urgent government action, Ibrahim called for a shift from consumption-driven policies to production-focused strategies. “The government must prioritize food production in 2024. Over 70% of Nigeria’s arable land remains unused, and the aquatic economy is stagnant,” he remarked.
Ibrahim urged the government to fulfill its duty to protect lives and property. “Nigerians are dying either at the hands of kidnappers or while struggling to survive. The statistics are grim, and the people deserve better,” he concluded.
