Governor Mohammed Yahaya of Gombe state says the youths in the northern part of the country are seriously angry over the security and economic situation in the region.
The Gombe helmsman said the northern part of the region is worse hit with the current hardship facing the country, he stressing that the youths are seriously agitated and at the breaking point
Governor Yahaya made the remark in Kaduna during a meeting by the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Christopher Musa on how to tackle the insecurity in the region.
The governor is the chairman of the Forum.
He said some of the challenges facing the region include terrorism, banditry, kidnap for ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty, amongst others.
He called on Nigerians to cooperate with the federal government and other critical stakeholders to provide support for the most vulnerable in the country.
He urged northern leaders to find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the region, adding that the #endbadgovernance protest “that took place in August serve as a wake-up call for all northern leaders” that drastic steps are quickly needed to fix the problems.
Governor Yhaya said, “As we gather today, our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face
“These include but are not limited to terrorism, banditry, kidnap for ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty and unemployment.
“The recent EndBadGovernance protests that took place in August serve as a wake-up call for all northern leaders.
“Youth restiveness is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities. Our young people are calling out for change and it is our responsibility to listen and act.
“We must scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development and job creation.
“Let us focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.
“The economic hardship faced by many Nigerians today is undeniable and considering the north-south disparity in economic inequality, it is even more pronounced in northern Nigeria.
“This calls for urgent intervention. It is essential that we, as leaders, adopt measures to alleviate the suffering such as targeted social welfare programmes, support for small and medium enterprises, and policies that attract investment to our states,” the governor said.
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