A former Director, Research Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Titus Okunrounmu, has emphasised the need for the Federal Government to provide more jobs for youths in 2024 to reduce security challenges in the country.
Okunrounmu told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun, that insecurity and unemployment were two sides of the same coin.
The former CBN director said that an increase in unemployment would automatically lead to rising security problems in the country.
“An idle hand is the devil’s workshop.” he said.
He noted that most of the kidnappings, banditry and herdsmen/farmers crises, among others, were fuelled by the increased unemployment situation in the country.
He appealed to the government to leverage agriculture through the fertile lands and modern equipment for massive farming to employ youths to prevent them from engaging in social vices.
”The country could respond to God’s grace by farming and constant heavy rain to solve some of the current problems in the country.
“In addition, God has given us all these resources and population so that Nigerians would not suffer, ” he said.
Security challenges: Ex-CBN director Okunrounmu urges FG to provide jobs for youths in 2024