In recent days, a series of tragic incidents have occurred across Nigeria, resulting in the loss of lives as citizens grappled to receive government-distributed palliatives amidst escalating hunger. A particularly grievous event took place at Nasarawa State University in Keffi, where two students perished and 23 were hospitalized during a commotion linked to the allocation of palliatives. Governor Abdullahi Sule had initiated the provision of two 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000 for each student at the university, located in the state’s capital. Unfortunately, amid the chaos preceding the palliatives distribution, students Grace Danladi and Rose Michael lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries. The chaos erupted when some students breached security arrangements at the designated distribution site within the university, leading to a deadly stampede and the theft of food items and palliatives.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State refuted claims that governmental negligence played a role in the incident. He highlighted the smooth conduct of distributions of the palliatives at eight previous locations, attributing the mishap at the ninth to unprecedented circumstances rather than poor planning or oversight. The governor suggested that the panic was fueled by rumors of unfair list alterations by the Student Union Government, which escalated students’ anxieties.
Governor Sule expressed deep regret over the loss of lives and ongoing discussions with the victims’ families. He criticized attempts to politicize the tragedy, stressing the nation’s unfortunate propensity for leveraging such events for political gain.
Elsewhere, in an unrelated incident, seven individuals died at the Nigeria Customs Service’s Old Zonal Headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, in a crush among residents trying to purchase seized rice sold by the Service for N10,000 per 25kg bag. This was an effort by the authorities to ease the hardships faced by the populace amid economic difficulties. The fatalities in these events have been attributed to factors such as inadequate supply and questionable practices surrounding the distribution of the palliatives.
The initiative to distribute 25kg bags of rice by the government descended into disorder and disappointment, transforming a meant-to-be benevolent act into a scene of struggle and frustration among the populace.
The tumult reportedly stemmed from inadequate crowd control by the Customs, as a throng of individuals endeavored to push their way into the venue to procure the rice.
Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of the NCS, had promised a streamlined process for purchasing the food items, including the submission of a form with the buyer’s details and the National Identification Number (NIN), from which a barcode for collecting the rice would be generated.
Similarly, a distressing event in Bauchi State led to the deaths of at least four women during a zakat distribution (a charitable giving) in form of palliatives, adding to the distress.
This unfortunate event took place on a Sunday at the premises of Shafa Holdings Company on Jos road in Bauchi, with police spokesperson in Bauchi, Ahmed Wakil, confirming the incident. Among the casualties, a 17-year-old, Naima Abdullahi, was injured and is under medical care at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi. The desperate fear of missing out is believed to have prompted people to risk their lives and possessions.
Criticism has also been leveled against the disorganized manner of palliatives distribution in the country and alleged corruption among officials seeking to profit from public miseries.
Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed, Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, pointed to the students’ impatience as the cause of a stampede that resulted in two fatalities and numerous injuries among the students.
Bala-Mohammed remarked on the students’ failure to await their turn for the orderly receipt of the rice palliatives, a situation which not only resulted in physical harm but also tarnished the university’s reputation.
However, human rights activist Femi Falana attributed the tragic occurrence to “official negligence” by Nasarawa State University’s administration, urging for an inquiry into the incident and calling for compensation for the bereaved families.
Falana criticized the distribution’s organization in a statement, suggesting that a more orderly approach, such as distribution through academic departments, could have prevented the tragedy. This critique echoes the sentiments following a similar disaster in Lagos, where a rice palliatives distribution event by the Nigeria Customs Service resulted in seven deaths.
“It’s disheartening to observe that the university’s administration didn’t glean any insights from the tragic stampede in Lagos, where seven lives were lost during the distribution of 25kg rice bags and palliatives by the Nigeria Customs Service. The mishap at the university could have been prevented had the 7kg rice bags been allocated to students via their respective departments,” remarked Femi Falana.
He further criticized the lack of emergency preparedness, “Compounding the issue was the absence of an ambulance on standby and an ill-equipped university health center, forcing the injured to be transported to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where two female students were pronounced dead.”
Falana urged, “Given the circumstances of this tragic event, I advocate for the Nasarawa State police to delve into the allegations of criminal negligence that culminated in these needless deaths. Those found culpable should face prosecution immediately. Moreover, in light of the acknowledgment that the distribution was overtaken by hoodlums, both the state and university are legally obligated to offer compensation to the grieving families of the deceased students.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Aisha Yesufu, a noted social commentator, critiqued the underlying causes of such tragedies. On her X account, she lamented, “The APC’s governance model, which has been pared down to merely distributing food palliatives, fails even in its diminished capacity. People are forfeiting their lives for sustenance they ultimately never receive.”
Yesufu continued, “The surge in fatalities from stampedes at food and palliatives distribution points is suddenly deemed as divine will. Yet, with adequate disposable income and a supportive environment, the populace once managed without these hazardous food distribution centers.”
In expressing his concerns, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate during the 2023 general elections, voiced his sorrow regarding the fatalities among students at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) amid the distribution of food palliatives.
Through a sequence of posts on the X platform, Obi depicted the occurrence as both tragic and disheartening. He highlighted the escalating hunger crisis in Nigeria, which continues to exact a deadly toll on the nation’s citizens.
Obi reminisced about a comparable tragedy in Lagos State, where approximately seven individuals perished in a crush while attempting to purchase rice at a reduced price from a Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) warehouse.
He lamented that such tragic events unfold within a nation abundantly endowed with human and natural resources, including extensive fertile lands suitable for agriculture.
The former governor of Anambra State contended that, given the wealth of resources, Nigeria should not be grappling with issues of hunger and poverty, provided its leadership demonstrated sufficient concern. He expressed bewilderment over the nation’s descent to a point where individuals resort to desperate measures for survival.
Obi remarked, “It’s profoundly distressing to witness the regular occurrence of such tragic events among our populace. The recent news about the death of students from Nasarawa State University, as they scrambled for food palliatives from the state, deepens this sorrow.
“Merely a month prior, a similar heart-wrenching event claimed about 7 lives in Lagos, as people sought to buy rice at a cheaper rate from a customs warehouse. The relentless grip of hunger in our country continues to snatch away innocent lives.
“A UNICEF report earlier this month projected that around 31.5 million Nigerians would confront severe hunger and food crises from June to August this year.
“Such dire situations should not exist in a country blessed with abundant human and natural assets, including copious agricultural land. The fact that Nigeria is struggling with hunger and poverty is a testament to a lack of care from its leaders. The depth to which we’ve sunk, forcing our people into perilous situations just to survive, is unthinkable.
“The recent tragedy involving our university students, driven by hunger to fatal extremes, is a consequence of our collective failure to produce. I earnestly hope these grim incidents prompt our government to implement swift actions to curb the prevailing food insecurity, transitioning our focus from mere consumption to productive endeavors.”
Nduka Odo, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, pinpointed ‘system failure’ as the culprit behind the tragic events where Nigerians have perished in the scramble for government palliatives.
He argued that the core issue lies not in the immediate crises of citizens dying for palliatives but rather in the underlying causes that have led to such desperate circumstances. Odo critiqued the government’s economic policies for their lack of foresight, which has stripped citizens of their self-sufficiency.
“The root of these tragedies can be traced back to what I term system failure,” Odo stated. “We must ask ourselves not just how to prevent these deaths in the quest for government palliatives, but what has driven our citizens to such depths of desperation that they lose their lives for a meal?
“The problem stems from economic strategies that were not adequately considered, leaving our people unable to sustain themselves. The irony is that the government’s attempts at palliatives have resulted in loss of life.
“It’s clear that the same rash policy making that has pushed our citizens to the edge is also behind the deadly outcomes of these palliatives distributions.
“Had there been an established system of orderly procedures, those losses in Nasarawa could have been avoided. If our customs operations in Lagos were not marred by chaos, why would the distribution or sale of rice lead to turmoil?
“The absence of effective systems is our fundamental issue. With robust systems in place, we could prevent policies that push millions into severe poverty overnight.
“Such systems would also enable us to accurately identify those in urgent need, allowing for targeted and efficient assistance. The establishment of these systems is crucial for preventing further tragedies and ensuring the welfare of our citizens,” Odo emphasized.
“Consider the scene at the university gate in Nasarawa, where everyone attempted to enter the palliatives distribution site simultaneously. This chaos stems from a collective failure to value the importance of an orderly system. Rather than adhering to a first-come, first-served approach, there’s a rush to outsmart the process, indicative of our disregard for a systematic and procedural method of operation,” highlighted an observer.
The same individual pointed out, “A dysfunctional system breeds chaos and benefits those inclined to circumvent the rules. Conversely, a well-functioning system guarantees fairness and justice.”
Meanwhile, Onyebuchi Igboke, the Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance and Convener, Office of the Citizens, expressed his dismay over the loss of lives in the pursuit of government palliatives, criticizing the government’s ineptitude.
“The tragic loss of lives over palliatives is both shocking and a testament to governmental incompetence. The absence of comprehensive data undermines any government’s ability to plan effectively. Achieving reliable data on our population is crucial for the success of any initiative, whether at the federal, state, or local level,” Igboke remarked.
He stressed the urgency of the situation, “The recurrent fatalities across the country, as people scramble for palliatives intended to ease their hardships, call for immediate action by the government to obtain accurate demographic data.
“Now is not the time to point fingers but for the government to enhance its performance and ensure justice is served,” Igboke added.
Reflecting on the broader implications, Igboke pondered, “The recurring fatalities linked to the distribution of palliatives prompt a critical question: Is it justifiable for anyone to die in pursuit of palliatives? Such incidents underscore the flaws in the government’s policies, programs, and their execution.
“Recalling the challenges encountered during the COVID-19 crisis under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in reaching the underprivileged, it’s imperative to question the delay in acquiring precise data on those in need within our society. The idea that people must risk their lives for palliatives, intended to alleviate their suffering, is absurd and needs urgent reevaluation.”