Tackling Hunger as the Root Solution to Stampedes in Nigeria — By Senator Reformed 

The recent tragic stampedes across Nigeria, notably in Ibadan, Abuja, and Anambra, which claimed dozens of innocent lives, have occasioned national outrage and profound concern. While these sad developments have prompted discussions on crowd control and event management, it is imperative to recognize that the root cause of such desperate gatherings is the widespread hunger and poverty that drive the people to risk their lives for something basic as food.

The sight of desperate citizens, including children, surging into chaos for the faint promise of food and financial relief is both heartbreaking and damning. Although, some critics may argue that even the well-fed partake in such gatherings, but an unbiased inspection is enough to ascertain that hunger remains the root cause of this crisis which has become a symptom of systemic failure that must be addressed urgently.

Nigeria, often hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” paradoxically grapples with acute food insecurity. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), over 25 million Nigerians are at risk of severe hunger due to rising inflation, insecurity, and dwindling agricultural productivity.

Hunger, as defined by Amartya Sen in his seminal work Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, is not just the absence of food but the inability to access it—a condition exacerbated by economic and systemic inequalities.

It is this desperation for access that drives stampedes like the one witnessed in Ibadan, where 35 children lost their lives. Even in Abuja and Anambra, where similar tragedies unfolded, the common denominator was a population overwhelmed by poverty and deprivation. These are not isolated incidents but a reflection of a society that fails to meet the most basic needs of its citizens.

It is true that even some affluent people are spotted at these charity events. However, their presence does not negate hunger as the root cause. Such individuals often attend out of curiosity, opportunism, or to secure additional resources, but they are the exception rather than the rule. The masses, driven by hunger, are the ones who turn a gathering into a stampede.

The psychology of hunger provides further insights into this phenomenon. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs places physiological needs, including food, as the most basic and urgent. When these needs are unmet, rational behavior often gives way to desperation. In such a state, people are willing to endure indignity, risk injury, and even death for the chance of relief. This explains why poorly organized charity events, that provide food or money, become dangerous flashpoints.

Hunger in Nigeria is not merely a humanitarian issue; it is a political and economic crisis. The collapse of agricultural systems, due to insecurity and climate change, has significantly reduced food availability. At the same time, inflation, fueled by misguided fiscal policies and the removal of subsidies, has made even staple foods unaffordable for millions. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that food inflation in 2024 reached a staggering 30%, leaving many households unable to meet their daily nutritional needs.

This dire economic reality is compounded by a lack of social safety nets. Unlike developed nations, where food banks and welfare programs cushion the poor, Nigeria relies heavily on ad hoc charity efforts. These efforts, while commendable, are unsustainable and often poorly coordinated, leading to dangerous overcrowding and tragic outcomes.

To prevent future stampedes and restore dignity to Nigerian lives, hunger must be addressed at its root. And this requires that the federal and state governments prioritize agriculture as a bedrock of national development. This includes providing subsidies for farmers, ensuring access to modern farming techniques, and addressing insecurity in agricultural regions. As Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug noted, “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.”

Equally important is for the government to implement policies that reduce inflation and stabilize food prices. This includes investing in infrastructure to reduce the cost of food transportation and storage, as well as creating job opportunities to boost household incomes.

The need for a social safety nets can not be dismissed. A comprehensive welfare program is essential. Initiatives like conditional cash transfers, school feeding programs, and subsidized food distribution and what have you can provide immediate relief to vulnerable populations while long-term solutions are developed.

It is important to also add that beyond policy changes, there must be a concerted effort to educate citizens about the dangers of overcrowding at charity events. Organizers must be held accountable for ensuring safety measures are in place, and relevant authorities should actively monitor and regulate such gatherings.

Addressing hunger is not merely about preventing stampedes; it is about restoring humanity, dignity, and hope. It is about ensuring that no Nigerian has to choose between starvation and risking their life in a chaotic crowd. It is about fulfilling the government’s constitutional mandate to “ensure the welfare and security of the people.”

While immediate measures to improve crowd management are necessary, they are not enough—they are just band-aids on a gaping wound. The root cause—hunger—must be confronted with urgency and resolve.

Hunger is a silent killer, but its effects are anything but silent. Until it is addressed, the chaos we see in Nigeria today will continue to play out in different forms, in different places, and at different times. And, the time for action is now, for every day of delay brings more hunger, more desperation, and the risk of more lives lost because of a meal.