The Minister of State Foreign Affairs Ambassador Zubairu Dada has promised to take all the grievances of the youth to President Muhammadu Buhari and other appropriate channels for urgent attention.
Ambassador Dada made the promise at a meeting with critical stakeholders in Minna, the Niger State capital, as part of the ongoing stabilisation efforts of the Federal and State Governments.
- #ENDSARS: Chairman laments apathy in Imo commission of inquiry
- #EndSARS: IGP visits Sanwo-Olu, laments level of destruction in Lagos
The minister, in a statement issued at the weekend by his Special Assistant, Media, Ibrahim Aliyu, thanked the youth in Niger State for not using the #EndSARS protests to cause havoc in the State.
He said that the Federal government is fully aware of their challenges and is totally committed to addressing them at the meeting attended by traditional rulers, religious leaders, legislators, politicians as well as youth and women groups.
The minister who described the meeting as timely considering the widespread #EndSARS protests across the country said it would go a long way in addressing some of the challenges that made the youth to take to the streets.
He said although the initiators of the #EndSARS protests have genuine intention, the protest was however hijacked by hoodlums who seized the opportunity to steal and destroy both public and private properties.
Ambassador Dada said the Federal Government had shown commitment to the anti-SARS protesters by immediately scrapping the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and accepting to look into the five other demands made by the youth during the protests.
He stated that it is only fair that Nigerians give the government the benefit of doubt by allowing it to fulfil all it promised.
Ambassador Dada said recession and the recent outbreak of Covid-19 have made governance difficult in the country due to the dwindling revenue but that the present administration through determination was able to introduce various social intervention programmes to reduce the impacts of these challenges on our youth.
The minister, while speaking on the motive behind the brainstorming, said the aim of the meeting was to engage and listen to different stakeholders as parts of efforts to promote peace, security and corporate existence of Nigeria as one indivisible entity.
The Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Ketso, said the State was in full support of the reform of the Nigerian Police Force but that the calls for the reform must be done in peace.
Alhaji Ketso who lauded youths in the State for their maturity throughout the period of the protests, however, stressed the need for the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state especially in the areas of roads, power and the immediate take-off of the Hydro Electric Power Development Commission (HYPADEC).
Other speakers at the meeting including the representatives of various interest groups were unanimous in their calls for speedy interventions on critical infrastructures across Niger State.
Other key stakeholders who attended the meeting included members of the National and State Assemblies, Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara and Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse among others.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
