Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has voiced grave concerns over the pervasive hardship gripping Nigeria, particularly lamenting the tragic stampede at a rice auction organized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The auction aimed to alleviate the impact of skyrocketing food prices, offering 25kg bags of rice at a discounted price of N10,000 per bag.
However, the event turned fatal, with reports indicating that seven people lost their lives in a stampede at the Customs Zonal Office in Yaba, Lagos.
In a series of tweets, Obi criticized the federal government for its failure to address the root causes of hunger and starvation, asserting, “Today, we are one big nation united by hunger and starvation, to the point of dying to make ends meet.”
Calling for urgent action, the former Anambra State governor urged aggressive investment in the agricultural sector to tackle the food crisis.
He emphasized the untapped potential of uncultivated land in the North, urging the government to prioritize large-scale food production and bolster the country’s export trade.
Obi further highlighted the crucial need for improved security to safeguard farmers and their farmland, stressing that agricultural prosperity hinges on a safe and conducive environment for cultivation.
“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,” he said.
