The Labour Party (LP) has expressed serious concern over the recent stampedes that claimed many lives in separate incidents in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Abuja.
Umar Farouk, LP National Secretary described the tragic events as a grim reminder of the hunger crisis ravaging the country, calling it “a silent epidemic more devastating than any natural disaster.”
“These stampedes highlight the extreme hunger and desperation gripping Nigerians. Hunger is proving to be the deadliest epidemic we face, more so than any natural calamity,” Farouk lamented.
He referenced recent data from the World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) to illustrate the dire situation.
According to him, the data stated that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen to 40.7 per cent, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line—making the country home to the second-largest poor population globally after India.
Farouk added that rising inflation, poor economic management, and recent economic reforms under the President Bola Tinubu -led administration have exacerbated the crisis.
He further pointed out that hunger-driven tragedies extend beyond stampedes.
“Desperate Nigerians have been scooping fuel from accident sites, leading to deadly infernos, and resorting to crime, including kidnapping.
“A survey revealed over 2 million Nigerians were kidnapped in the last year, with $1.42 billion paid in ransom—a stark indication of worsening socioeconomic conditions.”
Farouk urged the government to prioritise food production, utilize Nigeria’s vast arable land, and revive the aquatic economy.
“We implore the government to scale down its 2025 agenda and redirect resources towards addressing hunger and poverty. Over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s land remains underutilized, and our agricultural and fisheries sectors are in shambles,” Farouk stated.
He also reminded the government of its constitutional duty to protect lives and property.
“The daily survival struggle of Nigerians has become a matter of life and death. While kidnappers claim lives with impunity, others perish while scrambling for food to survive. The government must act decisively to end this crisis. Enough is enough.”
