The deadly scramble for palliatives

When some Nigerians gathered at palliative distribution centres in Ibadan, Oyo State, Maitama, Abuja and Okija in Anambra State shortly before Christmas, little did they know that scores of them would die in search of rice, beans, noodles and other palliatives, organizations and philanthropists usually dole out during festive periods. Since the unfortunate incidents in the South-West, North-Central and the South-East geo-political zones, Nigerians have been sharply divided in their response to the tragedy, which claimed over 67 lives and left scores of others severely wounded. While about 35 children died in the Ibadan incident, 10 persons died in Abuja and 22 in Okija, Anambra State.

While those sympathetic to the government in power blamed the deadly scramble for rice and other commodities on the chaotic and uncoordinated manner the distribution of Christmas palliatives was organized. Most Nigerians, including the vocal opposition, traced the avoidable tragedy to the excruciating suffering in the country occasioned by the harsh economic policies of the federal government, following the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira arising from unification of the foreign exchange market rates.

Yet, another minority group blamed the tragedy on the rushing culture of Nigerians to get things first, be it at bus stops, airports or even in banking halls. In other words, we lack the capacity to be in queues to obtain public service. It is likely that some of us lack the basic discipline to be orderly to receive gifts even in churches or crusade grounds. All the sides to the argument can be said to be correct. I take that position because their differing perspectives are vital in objectively interrogating the reasons behind the palliative scramble stampedes that led to the avoidable deaths at the aforementioned three centres across the country.

Nobody can deny that there is acute hunger in the country. The economic hardship in the country is real. It is also true that the palliative distribution was chaotic and uncoordinated. The crowd control was very poor. There was even no provision for medical emergency in the locations. There was no security presence. The geographical distribution of the death centres shows that we are even united in hunger and grief. It illustrates our shared humanity. The hunger in the land knows no boundary and does not discriminate. It doesn’t know ethnicity and faith. Considering our shared humanity, all Nigerians are affected by the effects of any government policy, whether for good or bad. That is why government should tinker with some of its policies.

Going forward, there are many lessons we can learn from the tragic incidents for all Nigerians, including members of the political class, the organizers of palliatives and poor Nigerians who usually throng in their numbers to the relief or palliative distribution centres. The act of charity, especially at yuletide season is highly commendable. Those Nigerians who embark on such ventures must be commended. They are helping the government to ensure good life for some segment of Nigerian society. They should not be blamed or even be arrested by the police because of the accident which occurred at the food distribution venues. Probably, they did not envisage large crowds and the ensued tragedy.

Perhaps, they were overwhelmed by the surging and uncontrollable crowds. However, there is need for compensation for the dead and adequate care for the injured. This would seem the best way to ensure closure in the matter and not the arrest of the organizers of the palliatives. The government must avoid any measure that would amount to criminalization of charity or philanthropy. Setting necessary guidelines for distribution of palliatives, which the government has done, is the best way to handle the matter.

The police should always ensure the security of the citizens whether invited or not for the distribution of free food items. It is not everything that the police should wait for invitation before intervening to save lives. The before Christmas stampedes are not isolated cases. Nigerians had witnessed such incidents in the past. Apart from the earlier ones in Nasarawa and Bauchi states, not less than seven people died early in the year when the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) auctioned rice at its Harvey Road zonal office, Lagos.

No doubt, food shortage is a major challenge in Nigeria. With over 133 million Nigerians classified as being multi-dimensionally poor and with rising insecurity across the country, the food insecurity is understandable. With rising insecurity in food-producing zones caused by the crisis between violent herders and farmers, the food shortage in the country becomes inevitable. In 2023, Nigeria was among 22 countries described as hunger hot spots in the world. Among them, Nigeria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen were reportedly at the highest alert level for acute hunger in the world.

Also, in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria was ranked 103 out of 121 countries. Similarly, the Food Security Update Report released by the World Bank in September this year, classified Nigeria as one of the 18 countries that would experience a significant rise in the number of people exposed to starvation. The report also noted that the number of people facing acute food shortage in the country had increased to 28 percent. It could also be more.

The startling revelations point to the worrisome food insecurity in the country. The hunger in Nigeria is real and troubling. It is even a present danger. People dying in stampede because of food shows that Nigerians are desperate for food. With enough arable land in the country, Nigerians should not die queuing for palliatives during festivals. In fact, no Nigerian should die because of food. The government must begin now to address the food shortage challenge before it is too late. Let all tiers of government come together to address the hunger in the land.

Massive investments in agriculture will go a long way in curbing the hunger and food shortage in the country. Nigeria has the land and capacity to grow enough food for its population. Let there be greater emphasis on food production. Depending on food imports alone will not solve the food shortage in the country. Above all, organizers of food palliatives must ensure that such events are orderly. They should also prioritize crowd control and public safety during such events.