The Price of Silence: Stampedes, Floods, Insecurity and Hardship in Tinubu’s Nigeria

In a democracy, the President is employed by the people. However, under President Bola Tinubu, a pattern of indifference has emerged, ranging from silence during national tragedies to economic decisions that exacerbate the suffering of everyday Nigerians. These instances reflect a presidency that has repeatedly failed to prioritise the welfare of its true employers: the Nigerian people.

Several instances have demonstrated the President’s disregard for the safety of the lives and properties of Nigerians, leading to the deaths of many citizens. These instances include:

Abrupt Fuel Subsidy Removal: Leaving Nigerians to Suffer Alone

In his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu declared that “fuel subsidy is gone.” The announcement caused petrol prices to triple overnight, without any plan in place.

This rash decision led to soaring transport costs, and food prices followed, resulting in a spike in inflation. While the administration promised palliatives, millions are still waiting, and many are forced to choose between fuel, food, and survival.

The policy, while hailed by some economists, was implemented with no empathy for the vulnerable majority and without a national address offering an explanation or plan in real-time.

Naira Floating: Currency Reform Without Protection

Shortly after removing the subsidy, the government allowed market forces to determine the naira’s value by floating it. This resulted in the naira collapsing, and the cost of imports, including medicine, food, and education, skyrocketed. Parents struggled to pay foreign tuition. Small businesses shuttered. Pharmaceutical prices doubled. Yet again, the government failed to prepare the people or cushion the blow.

Experts and civil society groups warned of this outcome, but the administration pressed on, offering technical justifications while ignoring the human toll.

117 Dead in Niger State Floods — No National Address, No Visit

The recent massive flooding in Mokwa, Niger State claimed 117 lives and displaced thousands. Survivors in Mokwa, Lavun, and Wushishi Local Government Areas (LGAs) reported the loss of homes, farms, and loved ones. Yet, President Tinubu has not visited the area or addressed the nation.

We are dying here, and the government doesn’t seem to care,” said a displaced farmer.

Rising Insecurity: No Safe Place to Run

From mass kidnappings in the north to violent attacks in the southeast, insecurity has worsened under Tinubu’s leadership. In 2024 and early 2025, several communities in Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna, and Borno States were ravaged by armed militias and terrorist factions.

While governors begged for federal action and citizens buried loved ones, the President remained silent or delegated vague “security directives.” The promise to secure Nigeria has become a broken contract, leaving citizens to live in fear.

Over 60 Dead in Food Stampedes Under Tinubu’s Watch

Across Nigeria, over 60 citizens have died in stampedes during palliative distributions. In Lagos, Ibadan, Nasarawa, and elsewhere, crowds surged for discounted rice and food aid, leading to tragic deaths.

In one case, an APC party member and six others died while trying to access rice.
In Ibadan, a spiritual event turned deadly, while in Lagos, Customs officials involved in a fatal stampede faced no charges, unlike private organisers.
These deaths highlight a failure of coordination and compassion, yet no major investigations or national mourning have followed.

Democracy Day Speech Cancelled — A Missed Opportunity

June 12, 2025, marked Democracy Day, a date deeply symbolic of Nigeria’s struggle for civilian rule. President Tinubu was scheduled to address the nation, but cancelled the broadcast without explanation.

At a time when the nation needed reassurance, empathy, and leadership, the silence was deafening.

JAMB’s Mass Failure: Another Sign of Institutional Collapse

In May 2025, mass failures in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) sparked national outrage. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) later admitted to a technical glitch, but federal authorities have not outlined reforms or apologised to affected students.

The silence from the top reinforced what many see as a government uninterested in the future of its youth.

A Government That Lives Large While Citizens Tighten Their Belts

Even as Nigerians face economic hardship, the Tinubu administration approved the following:

Luxury SUVs for officials and lawmakers, a N5 billion budget for a presidential yacht (later suspended after mounting pressure) and foreign travel allowances for bloated delegations.

These extravagances amid mass poverty portray a disconnected and indifferent ruling class.

Who Is the Government Serving?

The people are the employers, yet in less than two years, Tinubu’s administration has overseen:

Over 60 stampede deaths
At least 117 flood-related deaths
Economic reforms without buffers
Silence in the face of crises
A cancelled Democracy Day address
Nigerians are not just frustrated; they feel unseen, unheard, and unvalued.

For a president who promised “Renewed Hope,” the real legacy so far appears to be Renewed Hardship.

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