The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging immediate action to address the severe hunger crisis plaguing the nation.
The student body cautioned that failure to tackle this pressing issue could result in more fatal stampedes as desperate Nigerians scramble for food.
In a statement released on Sunday, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate, NANS National, highlighted the dire economic situation and its impact on the populace. "The unfortunate incidents of fatal stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra, where scores of Nigerians, especially children, lost their lives, are a national disgrace," Odunayo lamented. He emphasized that these tragedies could have been avoided if the government had proactively addressed the economic challenges leading to widespread poverty and hunger.
Odunayo criticized the government's "nonchalant and insensitive" approach to the plight of Nigerians, stating, "No amount of condolences and compensation can atone for the lives lost during these stampedes." He urged the government to "arrest the sufferings and hunger in the land," pointing out that the root cause of these tragic events is the deep-rooted poverty affecting many Nigerians.
The NANS representative stressed that Nigerians are hardworking individuals who rarely resort to seeking freebies, shows the reality and urgency of the hunger crisis. "We are tired of excuses and palliatives that do not reach the poorest of the poor. If the government had empowered more Nigerians through various interventions, the situation wouldn't be this critical," he asserted.
Odunayo called on both federal and state governments to fulfill their constitutional duties and revitalize the struggling economy. "Hunger is real, and poverty is real. No region of the nation is immune to this hunger situation. Urgent measures must be taken to reverse this ugly trend, otherwise, the government should prepare for more hunger-induced fatal stampedes across the nation," he warned.
The student body also expressed condolences to the families of the stampede victims, hoping for an improvement in the country's situation so that Nigerians will no longer "die like chickens due to hunger and poverty."
This call to action comes amid reports of escalating hunger in Nigeria, with projections indicating that 33 million people could face acute food insecurity by 2025.
The combination of record inflation, climate shocks, and ongoing conflicts has exacerbated the crisis, prompting appeals from international organizations for lifesaving support.
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