Posted by Worried Nigerians have urged the federal government to swallow its pride and roll back some economic initiatives in response to the gnawing hunger caused by the current hardship in the country.
The recommendation comes as a survival tactic known as warehouse looting gains momentum.
Early on Sunday morning, a mob of enraged Nigerians broke into the Agric Department Strategic food store in Tasha, Abuja, and stole food supplies. The store was located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Villagers said that a group of angry teenagers broke into a storage facility near the Tasha neighborhood and stole grain bags.
In a similar vein to the COVID-19 lockdown and the EndSARS demonstration against police brutality, a number of government warehouses around Nigeria were stormed and looted by enraged and starving Nigerians.
The present economic crisis in Nigeria may have triggered a historical recurrence.
Following wide-spread youth-led protests against police brutality and ongoing lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, security authorities in Nigeria battled to contain escalating reports of looting on government-run warehouses across the country during both episodes.
When the Nigerian people could no longer bear the pain of starvation, they stormed and plundered the warehouses that contained tons of relief supplies, including food that was supposed to be distributed during the lockdowns imposed to contain the new coronavirus.
A comparable event is plainly playing out before Nigerians’ eyes right now.
Two individuals lost their lives in July 2023 in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, as military attempted to quell a mob of young men who had seized food stores.
searches began on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at government food depots and swiftly expanded to private companies in the market. While the official death toll is unknown, police in Yola, the capital of the state, confirmed they arrested 110 persons in connection with the searches.
The state administration instituted a curfew that is in effect 24 hours a day. The next day, the curfew was loosened so that individuals may go about during the day.
The FCT Police Command has announced the arrest of fifteen individuals in connection with the looting incident in Abuja.
Many Nigerians have strong feelings about this new development, with some even worried it would spark a revolution.
Some concerned parties have called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to admit fault and roll back its ill-considered policies in order to stop the impending catastrophe.
Chief Maxi Okwu, who served as national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is among those who hold this view.
Though he acknowledged that everyone in Nigeria is going through tough circumstances, save for those in positions of power or public service, Okwu said that the government need to own up to its mistakes.
They are in a state of extreme anguish. Due to the current out-of-control economic scenario, even the business class is suffering greatly, with the exception of the really large ones.
It would appear that the federal administration is completely lacking in ideas. Providing answers to the problem is completely out of their league.
“Is that all? They have appointed a powerful economic team with governors and other interesting characters, but is that the solution?” They need to address the root of the problem, not just the symptoms, so that won’t work.
The previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari put an end to economic growth and development, which is why this is the case.
“I concur with what the governor of Anambra state, Prof. Chukwuman Soludo, said. A step must be taken in order to initiate solutions for the medium and long term.
Even if only briefly, the current administration should undo some of the policies it instituted upon taking office. The Naira’s floating and the fuel subsidy issue are what I’m referring about. For the time being, such policies will need to be modified in order to address the pressing issues.
It would have escalated into a full-blown revolution, he said, had Nigerians not been so patient.
There will be no popular revolution anywhere else in the world except in Nigeria. I am referring to a popular rebellion, not a military escapade.
According to him, Nigerians are a resilient people who will overcome any challenge.
Additionally, he cautioned that the issue could worsen if immediate action was not taken to resolve it.
Therefore, these acts of theft and looting are merely a desperate response. Actually, the government should be grateful that this particular instance of looting is quite minor.
If we were living in a healthy democracy, the masses would have taken to the streets by now, and the ruling elite would be in deep trouble. However, we can only hope for the best.
A few of us have completely stopped trying. We are currently observing the situation and operating on autopilot,” he said.
Yusuf Shehu, a former congressman from Katsina State, also pointed the finger at the country’s dire economic position, saying that people are reaching breaking point due to the rising cost of living, especially food.
While pleading with the government to take action, he also issued a warning about the potential repercussions of doing nothing.
Poverty is becoming the norm, and people are going hungry. Things are going to get out of hand if we keep going in this direction.
“Hunger is a major issue. People are looking for any opportunity to take advantage of the lack of both money and employment in order to wreak chaos.
It doesn’t matter if the grocery store belongs to the government or not; someone is taking food from everywhere. He emphasized the need for the government to take immediate action in order to alleviate the suffering of the people.
He was against looting as well, although he did say that people should fight back when they feel they have no other choice.
Everyone ought to play by the rules, so this is incorrect. On the other hand, the government should fulfill its duties as well. He argued that people shouldn’t be bullied into submission since that would force them to rebel.
A lawyer like Romanus Okoye would want to know when exactly looting became a crime and what the laws say about it.
Looting is essentially stealing, that much is obvious. The manner of the crime determines whether the thief is charged with petty theft, larceny, grand theft, burglary, or a related offense.
According to him, there are laws in some states that deal directly with looting and typically have harsher punishments.
“The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 explicitly prohibits the looting of civilian property during wartime,” he returned to the United Nations’ position on the matter.
“In theory, to stop this kind of looting, the Custodian of Enemy Property is made to handle unclaimed property until its rightful owners get it back.”
After reviewing the legislation regarding looting, he made the observation that the future is unpredictable in the presence of a furious populace like the Nigerians.
He said that everyone was living in extreme poverty except for the leaders, who were living it up.
“Those in power act as if nothing is wrong, flaunting their wealth, while the common people suffer in extreme poverty and go hungry,” he declared.
A leader’s life is the best example they can give. A lot of individuals can’t get their hands on these things. So that people can afford to buy food and eat enough to survive, the government needs to act swiftly to lower goods prices.
Ikechukwu Anthony, a public affairs analyst, also voiced his disapproval of the fact that many Nigerians are unable to afford food, the second most fundamental need for human survival.
He said that the government must act swiftly to end the country’s hunger or else the worst would follow, adding that what transpired in Abuja is only the beginning.
“What transpired in Abuja is merely the beginning if the government does not take immediate action to ensure that Nigerians have access to food,” he said.
The price of food is steadily increasing, and as a result, many Nigerians are going hungry.
A revolution is happening, and I feel compelled to tell you about it. When the food in those warehouses runs out, nobody knows what the people will do. I can assure you, though, that it is not without risk.
They would direct their wrath and aggravation against any motorist on Nigerian roads when food is scarce in warehouses and trucks are unable to transport goods due to attacks. As a result, many will refuse to go to work.
Revolution, in its simplest form, is the slow but steady slide toward anarchy and the complete collapse of law and order.
So, I’ll tell the administration to stop ignoring the situation and figure out how to get food to the average Nigerian as soon as possible.
The administration should rethink its policy immediately, he said.