President Bola Tinubu has stated that the hunger currently being experienced by Nigerian citizens is not unique to Nigeria, claiming it is a global issue. He made these comments on Monday evening during a media chat, which was monitored by NewdayReporters. In his remarks, the President also addressed the recent stampedes that have occurred in the country, insisting that these incidents were not caused by economic difficulties.
NewdayReporters recently reported multiple tragic stampedes across Nigeria, which resulted in numerous deaths. On Wednesday, a stampede at a children’s fair in Ibadan, Oyo State, claimed the lives of approximately 40 children. Then, on Saturday, a stampede during the distribution of rice and other palliative items at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, led to the deaths of 10 people. In another similar incident, over 16 residents of Okija community in Anambra State lost their lives in a stampede while attempting to receive rice palliatives.
Opposition parties, such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as other concerned Nigerians, attributed these tragic events to the current socioeconomic challenges faced by the country. They argued that the economic hardships were contributing factors to the stampedes. However, President Tinubu dismissed these claims, attributing the incidents to poor planning and a lack of organization by the event organizers.
He emphasized, “It is good to give, and I have been distributing food items and envelopes in Bourdillon for the past 25 years. However, I have never witnessed such tragic events because we are always well-organized and disciplined. If you know that you do not have enough resources to distribute, then do not attempt to give, nor should you publicize it.”
The President further compared the situation to food distribution systems in other countries, noting, “Even in America, there are food banks and hungry people. In Britain, they have food banks and warehouses, but the difference is that they are organized. People line up and take turns to collect the food, ensuring a more orderly process.”
Tinubu stressed the importance of proper planning and organization in such events to prevent future tragedies.
