Lagos – The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on food nationwide, following the recent stampedes that resulted in the deaths of over 65 Nigerians.

In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Bunmi Fasehun, the OPC expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident, which occurred in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja.

Fasehun lamented that the deaths reflected the hopelessness and frustration experienced by millions of Nigerians, who are struggling to access basic necessities like food.

“The government must declare a state of emergency on food immediately,” Fasehun said. “We urge President Tinubu to open the borders and ports for food to enter Nigeria quickly and allow for the free movement of local and imported rice and other food items through Nigerian highways.”

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The OPC also criticized the government’s palliatives, stating that they were grossly inadequate and never reached the intended targets. They highlighted the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, such as rice, cooking gas, and transportation.

According to Fasehun, “A bag of rice has risen to over N100,000, three times its price under Muhammadu Buhari, and about 15 times its value under Goodluck Jonathan. Cooking gas has risen to over N18,000 today, from less than N10,000 under Buhari, and N2,000 under Jonathan.”

The OPC urged the government to scrap policies that have impoverished Nigerians and brought unprecedented economic hardship on poor citizens. They advocated for policies with a human face, prioritizing food security and restoring a conducive atmosphere for farmers to return to their farms.