Hunger, Poverty Fuel Deadly Stampedes, Says Falana

Prominent Nigerian women’s rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mrs. Funmi Falana, has attributed the recent deadly stampedes in Ibadan, Anambra State, and Abuja to widespread hunger and poverty.

Speaking at the sidelines of her annual Christmas party for children at the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home, Falana, who is also the Executive Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), called for urgent government intervention.

Falana directly linked the tragedies to the harsh economic realities facing Nigerians. She cited the example of the Ibadan stampede, where individuals reportedly rushed to collect a mmeagre5,000 Naira (less than $$3, highlighting the desperation driven by extreme poverty.

She recounted disturbing reports of parents throwing their children over fences in the scramble for the funds.

“Poverty is being weaponised in our country,” she stated.

The activist emphasised the soaring cost of essential goods, with a bag of rice now costing approximately 120,000 Naira.

She questioned how average Nigerians can survive amidst the escalating price of petrol and other commodities.

Falana argued that the government’s failure to address these issues adequately is contributing to the suffering and instability.

Falana’s Christmas party, where she distributed cash gifts, food items, and beverages, served as a backdrop for her call to action.

She urged the federal government at all levels to implement policies and programs aimed at alleviating tconomic hardship.

Specifically, she advocated for the inclusion of special budgetary allocations for reputable orphanages in annual budgets, arguing that this would significantly improve their operational capacity and reduce their reliance on charitable donations.

“Huge amounts of money are allocated to members of the National Assembly, who are less than 500,” she pointed out.

“The government can easily allocate adequate funds to homes like this for the benefit of the less privileged.”

She stressed that government funds are held in trust for all Nigerians, including the most vulnerable.

Mrs. Bolanle Asubiojo, Director of the Child Development Department in Ekiti State’s Ministry of Women and Social Development, and Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, the orphanage matron, both expressed gratitude for Falana’s decade-long support for the children’s home.

Asubiojo praised Falana’s work, stating, “As you are doing this for the children, you are doing it for God, and God will abundantly reward you.”

The event served as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the deepening economic crisis and its devastating consequences in Nigeria.