By Aluta News
Oct. 17, 2021
Mr Biliamin Oba, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, has advised youths to avoid being used to cause destruction of property in the state.
Oba gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos ahead of the anniversary of the #EndSARS protests which rocked the nation over alleged police brutality last year.
He noted that the protesters had good intentions due to the lawlessness of some police officers, which had been left unchecked for several years.
“When the protest started, even the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu went to the Lekki Toll gate to address the youth and listened to their grevances.
“But unfortunately, a few days after the protest was hijacked by some persons for ulterior motives.
“Our findings showed that some NGOs that are getting grants from foreign countries contributed to the problem.
“Why will a foreign country be giving our youths grants to set our country ablaze?
“During the #EndSARS protest you heard about monies being mismanaged. This showed that people were funding the protests for political and other reasons,” said Oba.
He said the position of the youth council was that the youth and the government were partners in progress and needed to work together for national development.
According to him, there is need for Nigerian youths to change their perception about governance and politics.
Oba said: “Even if you are in politics and doing well there is this tag that an average young person has placed on you based on trust issues.
“They believe that once you are in politics that you have crossed to the other side.
“When you are telling them the truth, they will think you just want to cajole them.
“Now, when you look at Lagos State, they are already doing a lot to create opportunities for the youth.
“There is the Ministry of Wealth Creation.The ministry has an internship programme which is for graduates that just completed their National Youth Service Corps and need a job.”
He said the government also had other skills acquisition programmes which were accessible to youths in the state.
He urged the youth to take advantage of these initiatives to become better citizens.
NAN