The Nasarawa State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Abdullahi Maidoya, has said the state is facing issues of insecurity because most of its youths are jobless.
He said if urgent steps were not taken to provide jobs for the youths, it could make the state completely unsafe for its residents and investors.
Maidoya said this during a media dialogue held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists press centre in Lafia on Monday.
He chided Governor Abdullahi Sule and the All Progressives Congress for failing to provide opportunities for the youths.
The NNPP governorship candidate said in 2023, the state needed a change of leadership to experience rapid growth and development across its 13 Local Government Areas.
He said, “Among the 36 states in the country, Nasarawa state has the highest number of unemployed youths and these are the people who mostly contribute to the insecurity we are experiencing in the state.
“Having these large number of unemployed youths mean that we are sitting on a time bomb because they have to eat and solve other financial issues.
“If I am elected as governor in 2023, I will build industries where many of our youths will be gainfully employed.”
Maidoya also said he would grant full autonomy to the local government areas if he is given the opportunity to govern the state.
He explained that granting full autonomy to the LGAs would enable its chairmen to function effectively for development to thrive at the grassroots.
“I will ensure that local governments have full autonomy so that they can execute projects that will have direct bearing on the lives of the people at the grassroots.
“We are also going to give free education to our children from primary to secondary school level to enable them become better future leaders,” he added.
Our correspondent reports that the NNPP governorship candidate was accompanied to the NUJ press centre by the Nasarawa state party chairman, Sidi Bako; the Director General of Maidoya Campaign Organisation, Barrister Innocent Lagi; among others.
