Minister of power, Saleh Mamman, has said that no government in the history of Nigeria has done for the youths as much as the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is accomplishing through its numerous intervention programmes.
He made the declaration while meeting with youth groups and other key stakeholders in Jalingo on Sunday.
The peace meeting organized by the minister was at the instance of the president’s directive on cabinet ministers to move to their states and support efforts to restore peace and stability against the backdrop of the #EndSARS protest.
The minister, while addressing the youths, spoke extensively on the various empowerment packages the Buhari administration initiated across different sectors of the economy.
These programmes, the minister posited, are deliberately designed to cater to the teeming youths of the country.
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“Let me emphasize without fear of contradiction that the current administration has done for the youths of this country what no other government has done and we are still counting.
“Mr. President is passionate about anything that is aimed to better the lives of Nigerians,” the minister stressed.
In the power sector, Mamman said 5 million solar home projects will be implemented through the Economic Sustainability Plan targeting mostly the rural population.
“Already plans are ongoing to kick-start this and it is being designed to ensure that majority of the firms and the installers are Nigerian youths.
“This is also part of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s focus on lifting 100 million people out of poverty within 10 years,” he said.
The minister also said the president’s directive on mass metering programmes for the power sector which has already started across the country is another avenue for the youths to benefit.
“From the briefings I have received so far, the youths are taking up opportunities in this aspect as well as in renewable energy. This is another way the government will be empowering young Nigerians as the local assembly, installation, and maintenance of these meters are largely handled by our industrious youths.
“The programme has begun with a target for one million meter installations at least by December. The Central Bank of Nigeria is supporting local firms and Meter Asset Providers on the financing and I urge our youths to take advantage of this,” he said.
The minister urged the youths to be vigilant and resist any attempt by some people to use them to incite violence for their sinister motive, noting that the Federal Government was tailoring more programmes for the youths through the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative and in building capacity on renewable energy.
The Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, who was represented by his special adviser on security thanked the minister for his inclusive leadership style and called on all stakeholders to support the governor’s efforts in achieving peace in the state.
He described last week’s looting of warehouses in parts of the state as unacceptable and reiterated government efforts to retrieving all the looted items.
Other speakers at the meeting attended by 35 youth groups, 20 civil society organizations, religious and political party leaders highlighted the need for continued dialogue with the youths as a way of understanding their plights.
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