Minister Blames Past Leaders For Youth Restiveness

THE Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, has attributed the anti-social behaviours among many Nigerian youths to the negligence and failure of past administrations to evolve effective youth policy geared towards empowerment, progressive mentoring and encouragement as leaders of tomorrow to take active part in the social-economic development of the country and safeguard of their future.

According to him, the development is leading many otherwise promising youths to a state of despair, often making many to commit various kinds of atrocities.

Dalung made this remark while receiving a six-man delegation of concerned Nigerians, under the umbrella of the United Nigerian Initiating for Peace (UNIPEACE) to his office yesterday.

“Nigeria as a nation today is boiling. Those in the streets singing discordant tunes are largely those who felt that their generation has been short-changed and as they stare, they see their future pack up and they feel they have no hope.”

The minister, however, said a united Nigeria offers the greatest prospect for the wellbeing of the country and its people, saying anybody that is well travelled would appreciate that every part of the country today is grappling with many challenges.

He appealed for patience to enable the government develop the country to a level that would be the pride of all.

He promised to carry the message of the group to the appropriate quarters and urged them not to relent in their efforts at finding solutions to the problem at hand, assuring that posterity would score them high.

Leader of the group, Dr. Ekechi Ezechukwu Enwere, said they were seeking collaboration with the ministry to find lasting solution to the festering agitation in the Southeast and urged the federal government not to dismiss the agitation with a wave of hands, but to engage the youth and do everything humanly possible to forestall another Boko Haram in the country.