Peter Obi criticizes Tinubu’s administration for surging food prices, claiming that hunger and starvation have united Nigerians.
Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, criticized the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the steep rise in food prices, stating that Nigerians are now “united by hunger and starvation.”
Obi, a former Anambra governor, emphasized the government’s failure to address the escalating cost of food items, noting that citizens are risking their lives to find affordable food amidst widespread hunger.
He further emphasized that millions of Nigerians are uncertain about their next meal.
He further emphasized that millions of Nigerians are uncertain about their next meal, stating that “hardship, hunger, and starvation prevail in the country.” “Just yesterday,” he said, “I read saddening reports of how the search for cheap rice claimed the lives of some Nigerians in Lagos.” According to the report, a large crowd of hungry Nigerians had gathered at the Zonal Office of the Nigerian Customs Service in Yaba, Lagos, to purchase discounted 25kg bags of rice offered by the Customs Service.
During the heavy stampede, some lives were lost
During the heavy stampede, some lives were lost, highlighting the tragic reality that despite Nigeria’s wealth, citizens are dying in their desperate quest for affordable food amidst growing hunger and starvation.
“This sad occurrence reflects the level of hardship, hunger, and starvation prevalent in the country,” he stated.
Peter Obi advised the federal government to invest “aggressively” in the agricultural sector to address the food crisis. He emphasized that the vast uncultivated land in the North could be a significant asset, leading to large-scale food production and bolstering the country’s export trade.
According to Obi, the government also needs to fix security to enable the safety of the farmers and their farmland.
He stressed, “Again, I strongly urge the government to lead the crusade against hunger by investing aggressively in our agricultural sector. The vast uncultivated lands in the North, as I have always said, are our biggest assets.
“Now is the time to put them into maximum use for food production in the nation and for exports.
“In doing this, the government and security agencies must ensure the safety and security of the farmers.”
Nigeria currently faces soaring food inflation, reaching 35.41% as of January 2024, the highest in almost a decade, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
This surge in food prices prompted the federal government to declare a state of emergency on food security.
Additionally, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, noted that the government has decided to open the National Food Reserves as part of measures to reduce food prices.
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