Address Youth Unemployment Now – ACF Tells Northern Govs

A socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, has asked the Northern Governors to address the rising youth unemployment in the region.

Rising from a meeting of its board of trustees in Kaduna on Wednesday, the ACF noted that urgent steps should be taken to address the menace.

In a communiqué signed by the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the forum, Shehu Malami, at the end of the meeting said if urgent steps are not taken to address the plight of the youths, they would explode at any given moment.

It tasked Northern governors to industrialise the region, as well as establish financial institutions to facilitate employment and development.

The forum also expressed concern over the increasing wave of insecurity across northern states.

It noted that despite the efforts of the Federal Government, Boko Haram, bandits kidnappers, clashes between herders and farmers had been on the increase.

The ACF also decried a situation where the north was left without a single financial institution to advance the economic growth and fortunes of the region.

The statement added, “Similarly, the board decried the lack of media houses in the north to keep the citizens of the north well informed.

“The board observed that without a sound financial foundation and backing, the north will always remain backward.

“On the problems of unemployment in the north, the board said it is regrettable that the north has not realised it is sitting on a time bomb which can explode at any time.

“The board resolved that there is the need to take immediate action to salvage the youth from lethargy, drugs and substance abuse, despondency and banditry.”

On the trial of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, the forum hailed the Federal Government, security agencies, and all those behind the arrest and repatriation.

The ACF said the development showed that the government was capable of handling security matters.