A former education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, has mourned the death of Nigerians, many of whom were children during food items distributions in Oyo, FCT and Anambra.
At least 60 persons died from attempting to receive free food items.
Ezekwesili said the organisers had good intentions but underestimate the scale of food poverty in the country.
She said the serial losses ought to send a strong message to leaders, but that unfortunately, they are not likely to hear.
She via a statement on her X handle, “My heart cries out for families of victims of the 3 stampedes that occurred during charity food distribution events in Ibadan, Okija in Anambra State and Abuja.
“Nothing in recent times has signaled the gravity and scale of economic distress in our land than these similar tragedies in a season of celebration.
“The fact that some like to deny is that Nigerians have become victims of widespread food poverty especially among our low and peripheral middle income families. I feel sad for the well-intended organizers of the 3 programs across the country who grossly underestimated the scale of beneficiaries that would show up in this season of famine in our land. And then of course our weak emergency response system that has often failed to mitigate tragedies.
“These serial losses of several of our children who went in search of free food should send the strongest message yet to all self-indulgent “leaders” in Nigeria’s public offices. But will they hear?”
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