The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to urgently address the country’s worsening economic situation, particularly the severe hunger leading to stampede.
In a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, NANS National, Abdul-Yekinni Odunayo, the student body warned that failure to address hunger could lead to more deadly stampedes as Nigerians scramble for free food.
Odunayo described the recent fatal stampedes in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra, where many Nigerians, especially children, lost their lives, as a “national disgrace.” He argued that these tragic events could have been avoided if the government had tackled the country’s economic challenges, including widespread poverty and hunger.
He pointed out that while Nigerians are hardworking, hunger has driven many to desperate measures. Urgent action is needed, he said, to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
“The failure of the government at all levels has allowed this situation to worsen without any meaningful solutions to address the poverty facing Nigerians,” Odunayo stated.
He criticized the government’s “nonchalant and insensitive” response to the plight of the people, emphasizing that no amount of condolences or compensation could make up for the lives lost in the stampedes.
“Arrest the suffering and hunger in the land. The root cause of the stampedes is deep-rooted poverty and hunger,” he continued. “Nigerians have never had it this bad. The situation is tough, and it should be a serious concern for the government. We are tired of excuses and ineffective palliatives.”
Odunayo also called on the Federal Government and state governments to fulfill their constitutional duties and stimulate the economy, stressing that hunger and poverty are real issues affecting every region of the country. He warned that if the situation is not addressed, more hunger-induced fatal stampedes could occur.
NANS also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent stampedes, urging the government to improve the situation so that Nigerians will no longer “die like chickens” due to hunger and poverty.
