The Labour Party has expressed sadness over the death of about 65 Nigerians due to stampedes in the past few days.

According to the National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the stampede recorded in Oyo and Anambra states and also in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which happened at a time when Nigeria is not facing any natural epidemic, points to the fact that hunger could be the worst epidemic a people can face.

As reported, about 35 children died during a stampede at a children funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, a few days ago. Also, 20 residents of Okija community in Anambra State lost their lives in a similar stampede on Saturday. On the same day, more than 10 people died following a stampede in the FCT, Abuja.

Citing a 2023 World Bank report, Ibrahim said the poverty rate in Nigeria, which was estimated to be 38.9%, with 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line, is now estimated to be 40.7%.

“This made Nigeria the second-largest poor population in the world, after India,” he said.

He blamed poverty as the reason why some Nigerians scoop fuel from accident scenes resulting to inferno which brought about hundreds of casualties.

He also cited the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey which shows that more than two million people have been kidnapped in Nigeria in the last one year and that Nigerians paid a cumulative $1.42 billion to kidnappers within the same period.

“One major reason why people resolve to crime is due to hunger. Nigerians in their millions have been subjected to hunger arising from other reasons such as rising inflation and poor economic management. The economic reforms of the Tinubu administration have caused untold hardship to Nigerians. Hunger is turning into an epidemic and not many people can survive this situation,” he said.

His party called on the government to scale down most of its agenda in 2025 and redirect its policies towards food production.

Ibrahim pointed out that over 70 percent of Nigeria land resources are laying waste, aquatic economy is prostrate and the ministries in charge of these sectors should be made to function.

“Finally, protection of lives and property are the cardinal purpose of the government. But as we can see, life of Nigerians no longer matter that much. While a large number of Nigerians have been wasted by the butcher knife of the kidnappers, many simply get killed while trying to survive at all cost. Nothing tangible is been done by the government to ameliorate the hunger crisis and check poverty level in Nigeria. The government must simply sit up and put their acts together. The statistics is not good, and enough of taking the people for granted,” he concluded.