The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded answers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the whereabouts of the rice pyramids ceremoniously launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari back in 2022.
Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s national publicity secretary, emphasized the urgency of this inquiry, citing the prevailing hunger and harsh economic realities experienced by Nigerians.
As reported by Sahara Reporters, in a recent discussion with The Cable, Ologunagba highlighted a tragic incident where seven individuals lost their lives in a stampede during the Nigerian Customs Service’s distribution of 25kg bags of rice in Lagos.
Expressing dismay, he pointed out that such fatalities might have been prevented had the APC fulfilled its promise of flooding the market with the rice heralded by the Buhari administration.
Ologunagba was quoted as saying, “Last week, the Nigerian Customs was selling seized rice and seven people died in Lagos. How did we get to that level? The APC government then, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari told us there is abundance of rice production in Abuja,”
Continuing his critique, he described the rice pyramid as nothing but a facade of falsehood, questioning the credibility of claims made about surplus food production due to initiatives like the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, which, according to him, was tainted by corruption.
He queried, “If indeed there was abundance of food production as a result of that intervention, why is there hunger in the land? Where is the pyramid of rice today? The APC owe Nigerians explanation on this at this crucial period. Billions of naira were expended on the Anchor Borrowers programme but where is the food?”
Ologunagba urged the government to prioritize addressing the hunger crisis by declaring a state of emergency, while also emphasizing the need to tackle insecurity to enable farmers to cultivate their lands without fear.
“This government should focus on insecurity. If the environment is secured, people will go to their farms, people will be encouraged to travel and look for businesses.
“People are very hungry and that should be the focus of this government now. This government should as a matter of priority declare a state of emergency on hunger in the land. If people are hungry, there will be frustration and despair and anything can happen,” he concluded.
