The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Nentawe Yilwatda, has addressed the recent food queue stampedes that claimed over 70 lives during the 2024 Yuletide season in Nigeria.
He emphasized that such incidents are not unique to the country, citing similar occurrences in advanced nations like the United States, where poor organization during relief efforts led to chaos. Speaking during a year-end review on Channels Television, Yilwatda referred to incidents during Hurricane Katrina and school food distribution programs in Texas to underscore his point that logistical challenges in distributing relief materials can happen anywhere, regardless of a country’s development status.
In Nigeria, the recent stampedes in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja have left the nation grieving and searching for answers. Critics have attributed the tragedies to the deepening hunger crisis and skyrocketing food prices that have left many desperate.
The events occurred during privately organized food distribution programs, leading to accusations of negligence against the organizers, who are now in police custody. While acknowledging the critical role of organization in preventing such disasters, the minister urged private donors to collaborate with the government to ensure safer distribution processes. He stated that the Federal Government is the largest distributor of relief materials in the country and noted that no stampede has occurred during government-organized programs.
The incidents have sparked widespread debate about the state of food security in Nigeria. Rising inflation and the soaring cost of staples like rice and beans have exacerbated the plight of millions. With over 70 million Nigerians living below the poverty line, the desperation seen at the food queues is symptomatic of a deeper economic crisis.
The minister’s comments have drawn mixed reactions. While some agree with his emphasis on organization, others view his remarks as an attempt to deflect attention from the root causes of the problem. Many argue that the government needs to do more to address hunger and poverty, which have pushed citizens to extreme measures.
Families of those affected by the tragedies have expressed their frustration, calling for both immediate relief and long-term solutions. An Abuja resident, whose relative was injured in one of the stampedes, lamented that the government’s response has been inadequate. “People are not stampeding because they want to; they are doing so because they are desperate. Address the hunger, and you address the chaos,” she said.
Economic experts have also weighed in, urging the government to implement stronger policies to stabilize food prices and improve food production.
They advocate for targeted subsidies for farmers, investments in agricultural infrastructure, and a comprehensive strategy to reduce inflation, which stood at a staggering 34.6 percent by the end of 2024. These measures, they argue, are essential to ensuring that Nigerians have access to affordable food and basic necessities.
Civil society organizations have called for greater accountability in relief efforts, emphasizing that the loss of lives could have been avoided with better planning and coordination.
Advocacy groups are pushing for clear guidelines to govern both government and private sector relief operations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In response, the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry has announced plans to convene a national summit in 2025, aiming to develop a robust framework for safer and more efficient relief distribution.
The tragedies have reignited conversations about the broader socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria. While the minister’s remarks sought to provide context and emphasize the importance of organization, they have also highlighted the urgent need for systemic reforms to address the underlying causes of hunger and poverty.
As the nation mourns those who lost their lives, there is a growing consensus that both immediate and long-term solutions are needed to prevent such disasters from happening again.
Yilwatda called for unity and collaboration among all stakeholders. He urged private donors to seek the ministry’s guidance in organizing relief efforts and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing assistance to those in need.
“This is a time for collective action. We must ensure that our people are not only safe but also have access to the basic necessities of life,” he said.
