The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the recent food stampedes across Nigeria as a harrowing reflection of the “alarming levels of misery, poverty, hunger, and desperation for survival” currently plaguing the nation under President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

In a statement on Sunday, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba lamented the tragic incidents during private food distribution events in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, which claimed the lives of over 60 people. The party expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and called for urgent medical attention for the survivors.

The PDP stated: “It is devastating that the APC-led administration has destroyed Nigeria’s once-thriving economy, plunging millions into abject poverty and hunger. Many citizens, unable to afford daily meals, are resorting to extreme measures, including suicide, dangerous migration, and even fighting for scraps of food to survive.”

The party criticised the government for making “arrogant and baseless claims of progress” and failing to implement the necessary investments to boost agriculture and food production. The PDP also urged the Tinubu administration to reconsider its “hasty and suffocating policies,” such as the sharp increase in petrol prices and the floating of the naira, which have exacerbated hardship for Nigerians.

The statement further called on Nigerians to hold the Tinubu-led government accountable, describing the stampedes as preventable tragedies caused by poor governance. “A responsible government that genuinely cares for its people would have introduced robust intervention programmes to alleviate suffering and improve the welfare of the masses, which is the primary purpose of governance,” the party said.