Nigeria has been plagued by a series of devastating stampedes in the past and in recent times, all of which had been linked to the rush for palliatives. The most recent incident, which claimed the lives of several people in Anambra State and FCT, Abuja, has left the nation in shock and mourning. As we reflect on this tragedy, it is essential that we confront the underlying issues that have led to this national shame.
As a result of hardship, fueled by corrupt and anemic governance settings, the scramble for palliatives has become a recurring decimal in Nigeria, with desperate citizens rushing to claim their share of the limited resources. This frenzy has resulted in chaotic scenes, with people trampling on each other in a bid to grab their own share. The consequences have been devastating, with lives lost and many more injured.
While the palliative rush may seem like a sudden and unexpected phenomenon, it is, in fact, a symptom of deeper societal issues. Some of the root causes of this problem include, 1- Poverty and Inequality, which created a sense of desperation and self centerdness among citizens. 2- Lack of Effective Governance: The high rate of corruption in our governance settings and the failure of government agencies created a vacuum that palliatives are trying to fill. 3- Cultural Values: The emphasis on instant gratification, greed and the lack of patience and discipline have contributed to the chaotic scenes we witness during palliative distributions.
While palliative sharing may provide short-term relief, it has several unintended consequences that ultimately harm the very people it is meant to help. Some of these consequences include creating dependency where individuals and communities rely solely on handouts rather than working towards self-sufficiency; fostering corruption as the distribution of palliatives often lacks transparency, leading to corruption and diversion of resources; undermining Local Economies by flooding communities with free goods, thereby depressing market prices and making it difficult for local businesses to compete.
To address the palliative pandemonium, we need to adopt a multifaceted approach that tackles the root causes of the problem. Some possible solutions include addressing poverty and inequality, improving governance by rolling out a draconian decree against corrupt public office holders, engaging government agencies to be more effective in providing support and resources to vulnerable citizens while ensuring that palliative distributions are carried out in an orderly and transparent manner as we reorient our cultural values to emphasize patience, honesty, empathy, discipline, and hard work, rather than instant gratification.
Palliative sharing, as currently practiced in Nigeria, has become a death trap in disguise and a national shame. Rather than providing a lifeline, it perpetuates dependency, corruption, and economic stagnation. It’s time for us to rethink our approach and focus on empowering individuals and communities to break the cycle of poverty and inequality.
MY PAIN: It is unfortunate that the palliatives that are meant to save lives in Nigeria have become baits for death traps.
– Ambassador Ezewele Cyril Abionanojie is the author of the book ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’ an award winner of Best Columnist of the year 2020, Giant in Security Support, Statesmanship Integrity & Productivity Award Among others. He is the President of Peace Ambassador Global.