The Labour Party has said it is concerned over the recent spate of stampedes that have resulted in the loss of numerous lives across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the Labour Party condemned the tragic incidents, which have claimed the lives of over 65 Nigerians in Oyo, Anambra states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Alhaji Farouk, the party is “petrified” by the frequency and severity of these stampedes, which have become all too common in recent times. He attributed the root cause of these tragedies to the pervasive hunger and poverty that have gripped the nation.
“The loss of this magnitude of lives at a time when Nigeria is not facing any natural epidemic is a pointer to the fact that hunger could be the worst epidemic a people can face,” he stated.
The recent stampedes have occurred in similar circumstances during the distribution of food items or palliatives. In Ibadan, Oyo State, over 40 children lost their lives in a stampede at a carnival, while in Okija, Anambra State, 20 residents died in a similar incident. More than 10 people also lost their lives in a stampede in the FCT.
The Labour Party cited statistics from the World Bank, which estimated that the poverty rate in Nigeria was 38.9% in 2023, with 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line. The party noted that the current poverty rate has increased to 40.7%, making Nigeria the second-largest poor population in the world, after India.
Alhaji Farouk attributed the rising poverty and hunger to the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, which he said have caused untold hardship to Nigerians. He emphasized that hunger is turning into an epidemic, and many people may not survive this situation.
The Labour Party called on the government to scale down its agenda in 2025 and redirect its policies towards food production. The party noted that over 70% of Nigeria’s land resources are lying waste, and the aquatic economy is prostrate. Alhaji Farouk urged the government to make the ministries in charge of these sectors functional.
“The government must simply sit up and put their acts together. The statistics are not good, and enough of taking the people for granted,” Alhaji Farouk added.
