Bilkisu Adejoh
In a heart-wrenching call for urgent government intervention, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has condemned the escalating hunger crisis in Nigeria, labeling it a direct consequence of a government that has failed its citizens.
His emotional plea comes in the wake of devastating stampedes at food distribution events that have left dozens dead and many more injured, exposing the desperate state of Nigerians.
“These lives lost are more than just statistics,” Rafsanjani said.
“They represent the pain, the hunger, and the unbearable suffering that millions of Nigerians are enduring. These tragic events are a stark reminder of the neglect that has allowed poverty and desperation to spiral out of control. The government’s inaction has created a gulf between the reality on the ground and the promises made.”
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, the chaos erupted at a food distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, where at least ten lives were tragically lost, including the lives of four innocent children. As a crowd of over a thousand people fought to receive a morsel of food, a stampede broke out, leaving many others injured. The haunting images of those crushed underfoot, desperately reaching for food, are a testament to the severe hunger gripping the nation.
He further expressed that this catastrophe was mirrored in Okija, Anambra State, where a rice distribution exercise turned into another deadly disaster. Here, the lives of at least twelve people were claimed, and more than thirty others were injured in the chaos. The surging crowd, gripped by desperation, proved to be too much for the event organizers to manage, underscoring the depth of the crisis.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, a children’s funfair organized by the Women in Need of Governance and Support (WINGS) initiative tragically became a scene of horror when overcrowding at the entrance led to another stampede. Several children lost their lives, their dreams and futures extinguished in an instant, as the crowd desperately tried to gain access.
“These deaths are not just tragic, they are preventable,” Rafsanjani emphasized.
“These are the outcomes of a government that has neglected its people, failing to address hunger, unemployment, and the root causes of poverty. How many more lives must be lost before action is taken?”
Rafsanjani also pointed to the rising insecurity that has compounded the hunger crisis. The rampant violence and banditry across Nigeria have forced farmers off their land, drastically reducing agricultural production and pushing the nation deeper into food insecurity.
He urged the government to prioritize the safety of its citizens, particularly farmers, to ensure the future of agriculture and food security in the country.
CISLAC implored the federal and state governments to take decisive action to address the hunger crisis and prevent further loss of life.
“The people of Nigeria cannot wait any longer. The government must take its role seriously and act with urgency and compassion. The time to act is now,” Rafsanjani concluded, his words echoing the desperate cries of millions.
These tragic events are a grim reflection of the nation’s hunger crisis one that demands immediate action to prevent further loss of life and restore hope to the suffering Nigerian people.
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