Pushed by severe hunger many Nigerian youths and families have resorted to invading, attacking and looting food items warehouses in the country to survive the current hardship. In this report Jumoke Olasunkanmi visits the different scenarios, drama and raises pertinent questions.
How Did Nigeria Get Here?
Nigeria is currently facing one of its most challenging economic crises in recent memory, characterized by soaring inflation rates and widespread food shortages with food and headline inflation rising to record highs and the cost of living becoming increasingly unmanageable for many citizens. President Bola Tinubu’s tenure has been marked by economic policies that have exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread frustration and desperation among the populace.
Desperate Measures
Consequently, desperation is driving some individuals to resort to desperate measures, such as raiding warehouses and intercepting trucks carrying essential supplies.
Rising Food Prices, Inflation Hit an All Time High
Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has seen a dramatic increase in food prices, with the food inflation rate soaring to 35.41 percent in January. This means that food inflation has risen by 10.8 percent since Tinubu assumed office just ten months ago. The impact of this inflationary pressure on ordinary Nigerians cannot be overstated, as the cost of essential goods, especially food items, has skyrocketed.
A bag of rice- a staple food now costs around 300 percent of the minimum wage (N33,000).
Government’s Response Inadequate
In an attempt to alleviate the economic hardship facing Nigerians, President Tinubu’s government had ordered the distribution of food items and provisional cash transfers as palliatives. However, these measures have failed to address the underlying issues driving the crisis, leaving many Nigerians frustrated and hungry.
Also, the distribution of food items has been marred by inefficiency and corruption, further deepening public mistrust in the authorities.
Survival by Any Means
With their livelihoods and well-being at stake, some Nigerians are resorting to desperate measures to feed themselves and their families.
Reports of looting incidents targeting warehouses and food trucks have become increasingly common. Desperate Nigerians, driven by hunger and frustration, have resorted to raiding trucks and warehouses in search of food and other valuable items.
In some cases, these attacks have turned violent, with looters overpowering truck drivers and security personnel to seize essential supplies.
On February 22nd, hungry youths stole food items from trucks stuck in traffic along Kaduna Road in the Suleja area of Niger State. They reportedly overwhelmed the truck drivers and looted scores of bags of rice before they were dispersed by soldiers.
On March 3rd, residents of Dei-Dei, Abuja looted a food warehouse belonging to the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration carting away not just food items but equipment and parts of the building like the roof, gate and processing machines.
Another attempt to loot a private warehouse in Idu Industrial Estate, Jabi, Abuja, was foiled by soldiers guarding the place.
Similar incidents have been reported in Dogarawa, Zaria in Kaduna State, where residents were reported to have looted cartons of spaghetti from a parked truck belonging to BUA Company.
Armed youths also attacked a truck conveying raw materials from the Dangote Cement Plant in Ibese, Ogun State.
These incidents are acts of desperation that spells out the severity of the crisis and challenges facing ordinary Nigerians in their daily struggle for survival.
Government Response and Public Outrage
The government’s response to the wave of looting has been mixed, with some officials downplaying the severity of the situation and attributing the attacks to criminal elements rather than addressing the root causes of the crisis.
Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, sparked outrage when she dismissed the perpetrators as criminals rather than acknowledging the underlying hunger driving their actions. Such responses have only served to further alienate the government from the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi in an interview with Arise TV countered Mahmoud saying that the looting is a consequence of the current economic woes
“This is not just typical criminals, these are people justifying why they need to take this grain to eat from a public warehouse.
“I think the key issue here is to see it as a signal to deal with the question of hunger. But at the same time, the government cannot allow anarchy, this is crime. Anyone caught cannot play hunger as the justification.
“At the same time, the government should not see it as a typical crime where somebody goes to someone’s house to steal something.” He said.
Time to Review Economic Policies
The ongoing food crisis in Nigeria is a pointer to the urgent need for comprehensive and effective economic policies that prioritize the well-being of the population.
Tinubu’s government must take immediate action to address the root causes of inflation and food shortages, while also restoring public trust through transparent and accountable governance. Failure to do so risks further exacerbating social unrest and instability, with potentially dire consequences for Nigeria’s future.
