TheCable

The National Youth Democratic Assembly (NYDA), a civil society organisation (CSO), has asked the federal government to take urgent steps to address the country’s security challenges.

This was the position of the group at its maiden stakeholders’ meeting held on Saturday at the Icon Valley Hotel, Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, Henry Nwaiwu, NYDA president, highlighted several challenges affecting youths, adding that with better security, youth productivity would improve in the country.

“Insecurity has been a major factor militating the well-being of Nigerian youths. The federal government should help this situation by providing necessary measures to combat and control the high rate of insecurity in the most parts of the nation,” he said.

He also expressed concern over unemployment the country, citing a reference to data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2021, which put Nigeria’s unemployment rate at 33.3 percent — the country’s highest-ever rate.

Speaking on the development, Nwaiwu urged the federal government to work towards addressing unemployment.

“Nigeria’s unemployment could be regarded as a pandemic according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). NBS says unemployment has risen to 33 percent, predicting recession if there is an increase by 40 percent before the second quarter of 2023 fiscal year,” he added.