NANS Urges FG to Address Hunger Crisis, Warns Against Fatal Stampedes

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the federal government to take immediate action to address the growing problem of hunger across the country, warning that continued food scarcity could lead to more deadly stampedes.

In a statement signed by Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate, NANS National, on Sunday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the student body highlighted the urgent need for the government to address the nation’s economic challenges to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Odunayo emphasized that hunger in Nigeria has reached endemic levels, driving many Nigerians into desperate situations. The student union leader expressed concern over recent tragic incidents in Ibadan, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, and Anambra State, where more than 30 children and other innocent citizens lost their lives in stampedes during food distribution events.

“These incidents are a national disgrace and could have been avoided if the government had addressed the economic situation with the urgency it requires,” Odunayo said. “Hunger is real in Nigeria, and the situation is dire. The government must act now before more innocent lives are lost.”

Odunayo pointed out that Nigerians are hardworking people who typically do not resort to scrambling for free food, but the dire economic conditions have made such desperation unavoidable. He stressed that the government’s failure to address the deepening poverty and hunger is directly responsible for the tragic stampedes.

“The root cause of these stampedes is suffering and poverty, which have been exacerbated by the government’s failure to provide real solutions,” he stated. “No amount of condolences or compensation can bring back the lives of those lost.”

He criticized what he described as the government’s “nonchalant and insensitive” approach to the welfare of Nigerians, saying that excuses and ineffective palliatives were insufficient to address the severity of the crisis. Odunayo argued that had the government empowered Nigerians through effective interventions, the situation would not have reached such critical levels.

“We are tired of excuses. The situation is tough, and it should be a serious concern for any government that truly cares about its people. If the government had truly empowered the people, this crisis wouldn’t be this severe,” he added.

The NANS leader called on the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, as well as state governments, to take urgent action to stabilize the economy and address hunger and poverty across the nation.

“Hunger and poverty are real, and no region is immune to this crisis. The government must act quickly to reverse this trend, or we will continue to see more hunger-induced fatalities,” Odunayo warned.

In closing, NANS expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the stampedes, urging the government to take swift action to ensure that Nigerians do not continue to die due to hunger and poverty. “We hope the government will improve the situation in the country, so Nigerians stop dying like chickens due to hunger,” the statement concluded.