The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development has commiserated with the families of the victims of recent stampedes in Oyo and Anambra states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over the distribution of food items and called for the declaration of a state of emergency in agriculture to stem food scarcity.
In a statement by the executive director, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, the group said it shared in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones at the distribution venues and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.
It said that it was saddened by these national tragedies during this festive period and urged security agents to be proactive and ensure public safety and order at palliative distribution centres.
“No doubt the organisers of these welfare distributions had good intentions to touch the lives of the less privileged; the tragedies that followed make it imperative that security agents be notified on time to ensure seamless distributions and forestall recurrence.
“With over 36 million hectares of arable land in Nigeria, there should not be food shortage, hunger, starvation and disease.
“Governments at all levels should be committed to boosting agriculture, curb poverty, unemployment and insecurity in tandem with the provision of Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” it said.
The group added that, unfortunately, the deaths from the food distribution stampedes have shown to the world that there is acute hunger and starvation in the country.
“It has become necessary for various governments to quickly address food insecurity in the country and bolster citizens’ living standards.
“We urge the federal government to declare a state of emergency in food production and make adequate provision for agriculture in the 2025 appropriation bill. The government should also recruit extension workers and provide incentives for farmers, particularly affordable, accessible and sustainable credit schemes for small, medium and large-scale farmers to boost agriculture. The need for modern machinery for increased productivity cannot be overemphasised,” it said.
It called on governments at all levels to urgently provide social amenities, particularly access roads, for the effective and efficient transport of farm produce across the country and drastically reduce inflation, which is now 34.6%, the highest in three decades.
“As we approach the new year, it is time to take governance seriously and provide the much-needed dividends of democracy to assuage citizens’ sufferings,” it added.
